Currently Reading Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul By Dave L. Goetz see related

Promise

So yesterday I went to a seven week old baby's funeral.  It was very sad.  But I am still amazed by God's goodness.  How He can use such a tragedy to His glory.  Even though I never met this baby and don't even know his parents that well, I am challenged and giving God glory.  They had a caringbridge website where they kept updates about Aaron (the baby) and I checked at least once a day.  I was totally amazed by the parents' faith.  They truly believe in the power of prayer. They believed that God could heal their son.  So many people prayed for this boy and family...so many who didn't even know them. Even though God did not heal him on this earth, Aaron is held tightly by the angels and has a perfect heart now.  His parents are amazing and are comforted by the goodness of God.  They really are truly amazing.  What makes it so amazing to me is not them but God.  Their faith and willingness to praise God through the most difficult time of their life is not from them.  They can only do that because of their Savior. God is good.  I can't even begin to imagine what they are feeling.  But the hardest days probably lie ahead of them.  Satan will attack.  I pray for them.  I pray that they are surrounded by family and friends who love the Lord.  Someone sang "Held" by Natalie Grant.  I was moved by the lyrics especially this line "And to know that the promise was when everything fell we'd be held".

I was reminded again...isn't it funny how we need to be reminded of the same things ALL the time.  Anyway, I was reminded that my children are gifts.  And God has entrusted them to me.  He has a plan for their life.  He  knows how many days on this earth they have.  I have no idea.  I am not in control.  In one way that is comforting because God is sovereign but in another way it is scary because what if I mess up.  What if??  I will. I have already!  God's sovereignty is so much bigger than me.  I still want to try do my best.  I can't do it without Him...I don't want to. 

If you made it through that, way to go!  It was just on my heart and I needed to get it out.

On another note, I still go back and forth about homeschooling.  Just when I think I have settled it in my heart about not doing it something happens or comes up that gets me thinking about it.  I'm trying not to read into something but my thoughts are if it still keeps coming up maybe there is something to it.  I don't know. I wouldn't do it until next fall (2009)because we have already enrolled Emily in K4 for the fall (2008) and we can't get out of the contract.  Anyway...I have a whole year to pray about it.

I'm having my knee surgery this coming Friday (April 18th).  Please pray for Doug.  We do have help coming but he will have a lot on his shoulders.  I know he can handle it but it's going to be hard on him. 

Peace out.

Currently Reading The Suburban Christian: Finding Spiritual Vitality in the Land of Plenty By Albert Y. Hsu see related

Update

I know I don't update very often. Sorry. BUT life is good here at the Hunt house.  We have commited ourselves here in MS and are staying.  That feels good.  I feel like we have been transitioning for a year and half now and I'm ready to plant my feet in and fully commit to my friendships and small group.  And everything else God wants us to do here.  It's been a hard transition to the suburbs.  We are trying to figure out how we want it to look like for us to live here.  We don't want to get sucked in the "bigger is better" mindset and we don't want to be too busy to have community with people.  We are making conscience choices to not let that happen.  I do think it can happen very subtle...that is how satan can work.  We have 3 basic "things" we are constantly putting in front of us with every decision we make. 

1.  Financial difference - living below our means; giving more to people with need; staying debt free (not there yet but we are so close).

2.  Relational intentionality - REALLY committing to the people that God has placed in our life here; being very intentional about our time with them and intentional about spending time with them (discipleship);

3. Margin with time - Not filling up life with activities; calendaring time with people each week (not waiting for people and not giving up).

On another note...

The kids are doing very well.  They are cute and smart as ever! James just turned 2 a week and half ago. Emily is talking and asking even more questions.  It is never a dull moment. 

I did sprain my knee jumping on a trampoline.  So I'm not able to run like I was.  It's been a little over a week and I miss it.  I sure hope it gets better real soon.  I was running 6 miles.  I did my first 5K a few weeks ago.  I'm going to do a 10K in July. And I think I'm going to start training for a half marathon in December.  I don't think I will ever get on a trampoline again. Those things are bad news.  For you 33 year olds out there...We are not as young as we like to think we are!!!  Our bodies can't handle it! Or maybe I should say knees.

Here are a few pics...

Emily with her Baby Alive.  She loves it.

The future Doug Hunt...

James doing push ups with Dad.

My sweet sweet family...I love them so much! 

Conversation between Emily and I on the way to church this morning...

Emily: "Do animals die?"

Me: "yes"

Emily: "why?"

Me: "Animals can't live forever"

Emily:"Will my fish die?"

Me: "yes but we will keep her for as long as we can"

Emily:"yeah we can get a new one when she dies"

about 3 minutes later...

Emily:"Will you and Daddy die?"

Pause (didn't want to lie to her)

Me:"yes"

Emily:"I don't want you and daddy to die. I want you to live forever. I want you to always be my mom and dad."

Me:"We will always be your mom and dad. Hopefully it will be a long time from now before that will happen."

Emily:" I'll be all grown up with my own babies. James will be grown up too and a daddy. Right?"

Me:"Right"

End of conversation.

Spaghetti

My kids love spaghetti. They can eat so much of it. Tonight at the table Emily kept saying "I'm just loving on it" while she slurps it in her mouth and James kept looking at me saying "Good" with a big smile and a mouthful of spaghetti.  James couldn't get it fast enough in his mouth and kept saying "HELP" and handing me the fork. LOL. To make the spaghetti a little better for them I started adding about 1/2 cup of carrot puree in the spaghetti sauce and using whole wheat spaghetti.  They seem to love it even better than before! Do any of you struggle with your children eating vegetables?? James is worst than Emily but it still is a struggle.

Another story...

My friend Courtney and her 3 kids came over the other day to play.  Her oldest is Emily's age and a boy.  They play real good together. They came out of Emily's room holding hands and Emily had a baby doll under her shirt. Then she announced that her and Hudson were getting married and then going to the hospital to have their baby. Whoa!  Me and Courtney just looked at each other and said what do you do with that??  4 year olds figuring out the opposite sex! Now that is scary.

Our church is having their big Christmas thing this weekend so Doug is real busy this week and weekend.  We haven't seen much of him.  When your husband is gone (especially if its work related b/c they can't help that) it sure does make you appreciate them. He is my best friend. I just love hanging out with him.

Currently Reading Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food By Jessica Seinfeld see related

Questions

What's hair made out of?

What does it mean to love somebody?

What is the difference between God and Jesus?

What does it mean to pray?

Where does my pee and poop go when I flush?

What's electricity? How does it work?

Where does air come from?

Is Jesus in the car with us right now?

And the list goes on....

I get questions like this everyday from my 4 year old.