"Te-tial"

When I put REB down for a nap or for the evening we have a very special song that I sing to her and it has become her favorite. I used to sing hymns to her a lot because I love hymns...but now that she can communicate with me she is always suggesting her favorite song, which is "te-tial."

Translation:
"te-tial" = "Special"

I learned this song through her Signing Time videos and it is a darling song and it just tells her how special she is to me! I love it and eat it up when she suggests, "te-tial" :)

Here are the words to the song:

Special to me
Today will soon be over
Tomorrow will arrive
Right now I'm going to hold you
Until you close your eyes
Words can't always sum up
The feelings that I have
So peaceful when you're sleeping
I know you hear me still...singing

You are very special to me
and I am very special to you
I know this is where I am meant to be
I'm glad that my baby is you

Exactly what I wanted
Exactly who you are
I know we'll work together
and we will reach the stars
Families stick together
and family last forever
Forever, that's how long I love you

Chorus again

Fresh Flowers

I love having fresh flowers in the house. It is one of those things that I can never get tired of! I have been blessed that my husband usually brings me fresh flowers very often...smart man ;)
Fresh flowers just make me happy and it just gives that perfect touch to the house.

Here are my first home-grown fresh flowers...
















Not bad huh? :) I think my favorite flowers are tulips and roses... and hydrangeas :)

Potty Training...

Today was my first attempt to potty train REB and it went...well...it went ok :)

I have never potty trained a child before nor have been thinking about it with REB, but today for the first time I noticed REB wanting to go potty. I asked her if she wanted to go potty and for the first time she also said, "potty." So off we go to the potty :) I have a potty for her that someone gave to us a while back and when I go potty, I sit her on her potty and we talk a little bit about going potty.

When she was in her potty she seemed like she was trying to go. I tried to read to her while she was sitting, but she wanted to get up. I tried to teach her that she needed to sit like when mama goes potty, but she started fussing a little so I decided to let her loose and then...well, then the real stuff came out all over the carpet :) It was fine. We cleaned it up and then I took her to get a bath and we had fun. I think I will start doing this when I see that she needs to go potty and see how it goes next time. I will keep you posted!

I also want to thank God for giving me patience and grace and joy at that moment:)

Like little Children...

About two weeks ago I woke up and was praying for the Ebersoles as the Lord reminded me that it was the day that they were heading down to Brazil to be missionaries :) I was still in bed and was thinking about them and then the Lord gave me an analogy.

I thought of how we as humans are just like little children...let me just tell you what I wrote down...

Michawn had commented in her blog how Grady kept saying, "when are we going to Brazil? What are we waiting for? :)

As I was thinking about them in the plane to Brazil I thought of Grady as he was FINALLY heading down to his beloved Brazil! I bet he was SO excited! I smiled in excitement for him! I bet all that waiting for "nothing" as he probably thought was maybe hard or frustrating for him, but what he might not have understood or known is that somethings needed to happen and take place before the big move, or calling, or answered prayer. All the waiting or the process was just as important and crucial as the leaving or calling or answered prayer.

I think like a child in many ways. I get impatient as I wait for "nothing"-at least this is what I think in my mind. However, God is at work even though we might not see it because it is in the unseen world or in the depths of my heart. I need to remember to give thanks to Him for listening and answering prayers and for His perfect timing!

1 John 5:14-15

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
1 John 5:14-15

I just read this passage and it blessed me so much because as we seek to know Him better or for direction, I know that it is HIS will that we know Him better and He does not want to lead us astray either. So, thank you Lord for drawing us closer to you and for guiding us in the direction that You desire. Give us listening ears and open hearts to receive what You have for us!

Aching to be more like Jesus

I am a cry baby! I cry over anything and everything...this is how the Lord created me. Sometimes I get embarrassed about sharing my own testimony because I always cry in view of what our Lord has done in my life.

Yesterday, I was watching the funeral of Ruth B. Graham and my heart ached and my eyes were full of tears. That morning they had been full of tears as I spent time in His Word. I cried because of a longing and an ache to be more like Jesus. I realize how much work the Lord needs to do in my life. I desire to be like Him and I realize that it is a process and the process is just as important. We will never be perfect like Jesus is...not until we see Him and then we will be like Him. I cannot wait!!!!

My heart aches to be more like Jesus. And as I watched the funeral of Ruth Graham I was so touched again by the same message that was so evident in her life, she loved Jesus with everything in her and was so in tuned with him. I pray that when I die, I can leave that kind of legacy for my children, husband and family. Lord, I want to be like you! Change me and mold me and make me into your beautiful likeness, I pray!

Ruth Bell Graham

1920-2007

The Lord has taught me so much through the life that Ruth B. Graham lived. She has been a role model to me, even though she never knew it and even though she was 52 years older than me. More than anything, she has challenged me to know God more each day and to love Him with all of my heart, and with all of my strength and with all of my mind and with all of my soul and to love others as myself. Thank you Lord for this living example of a true disciple of Jesus Christ!

You can click on the this link to read more about her!

It's the thought that counts!

Sunday morning as soon as our neighbor kids noticed we were finally home, two of the girls (sisters) knocked at our door. Matt opened the door and they gave him a wrapped gift for me for my b-day. They must have been wanting to give it to me a while back and I am sure their faces must have been full of smiles as they gave the gift to Matt.

The card said, "I hope you had a great time b-day. Did you have fun? Love, the Pattersons"

On Monday I saw the girls and gave them a big hug and thank you.

Jazmine: You like'd it didn't you!
Me: I loved it! Thank you for thinking of me on my b-day
Jazmine: well, my mom kindda forgot about your b-day. She had bought that gift for my grandma, but my dad did not want to give it to her, so we decided to give it to you!
Me: that was nice of you guys :)

Kids are so honest and so funny sometimes. It has brought a smile to my face every time I think about it. They are so sweet! It's the thought that counts! I cherish that sweet gift from them!

Things REB loves

Here are a few things that Rebekah loves these days:

1. Mama y papa
2. Peas--she will eat them like candy...she is always asking for peas and will even eat them frozen
3. Black olives--like candy too :)
   
4. Playing with water
5. Being outside--she could be there all day if I let her
   
6. Pretending like she is driving--every time Matt comes home from work she squeals with delight and then she signs and says, "Car" and they are usually there for a little bit...it is funny!
7. Playing with dirt--loves to play with it and eat it too:)
   
8. Strawberries
9. Cheese
10. Music--she is always asking me to put music on
11. To dance! It is so funny...as soon as we put that music on she is a dancing fool! It is so cute to watch
12. Doing ring around the rosie
13. She loves to "try" to sing and when I sing a song that she doesn't like she says, "no, no" and then I try another one and another one until she finally hears the one that she wants to listen to and "sing"
14. She loves other children and has a great time when our neighbors come over to our house and visit with us
15. Going to the Library is one of her favorite things as well. We usually do story time on Tuesdays and sometimes I take her on Wednesdays as well. She enjoys it so much.
16. She loves to pray with us and she makes sure everyone is holding hands before we can pray. Then at the end, she says a hearty, "MAH-MEN!"
    

It is fun being a mom and watching Rebekah grow. She is growing so fast and I am enjoying being a stay-at-home mom. I am so blessed to be able to do that!

Consistency and Priorities

There are so many things that I love about Matt, but as I was putting Rebekah down for her nap today I was thinking about our Good News Club last night. One of those things that I love so much about him was evident last night.

We had one girl show up to our Good News Club. We waited and knocked on the other kids doors, but they were not home. My first thought was, well, we will have to cancel since only one kid showed up. I was wrong :) Matt's response was to go ahead with the study as he said, "Rebekah (the girl that showed up) your are just as important as all the other kids...if it's ok with you, we will do the study with you." She agreed to say and so so we did the lesson with just her. We worked on the memory verse for a while and explained it to her and then we talked about the lesson by refering to other Bible verses. At the end, her and I ended up having a really good conversation about God's will, how we can know His will and what are things that we know for sure about God's will. We had a great talk. We then had our snack and prayed for specific things she wanted us to pray about. It was a special time.

Her mom called today and left the most encouraging message for us about how Rebekah so enjoyed meeting with just us and told her, "it was like having my own Bible mentors all to myself." I realize how important consistency is and how important it is to take time to teach even if it's just one person...because God sent us just Rebekah so that we could minister to her. I thank God for Matt and for his willingness to do the study when it would have been easier to have a restful evening!

Something else about Matt truly blesses my heart and makes me so grateful to have such a commited husband. Last year he was offered a great position at a company that was really about to explode in growth and so he was going to be able to have a huge profit share when the company sold. It would have been great for his career and for us financially. But, with companies like this, they really need people who will work a lot...above what they would normally work. When he was interviewed the 3rd time or so by the guy who would be his boss he asked Matt whether he would be willing to work extra hours and Matt respectfully told him that he would work hard but that his family was more important and that he was not willing to work after hours or weekends. Matt thinks that this is the main reason why he did not get the job...that and of course the Lord not leading us to do this.

I am so grateful to have someone who puts us first! Who desires to see our family grow and be a part of it, than to make lots of money and forsake his family. Thanks babe! You bless my heart in so many ways. You are such a wonderful dad and husband!!!!

While we were still sinners

There is a lot I could write about, but today I just want to talk about the goodness of our Lord! He is so good :) This is a phrase I can say over and over with a true conviction and with a true joy everytime I say it. I am amazed at how much God loves us! He loves us so much that He gave His one and only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us...and the Bible says that even when we were still sinners! "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. What an awesome God is that! I would not send my son/daughter to die for anyone! I would also not send my son/daughter to die if there was another way. There wasn't another way and that's why Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Last night Matt had his last Colombia meeting and I got to go and support him and be a part of it. They were practicing sharing the gospel with each other and I was the "translator." Wow, I am amazed over and over as I hear that beautiful story. Are you? I hope so. I hope you still get excited and joyful when you hear about God's love for you!

Last night I think I heard the Gospel story said in the most clear way I have ever heard it by one of the guys who is leading the trip. It was breathtaking and so beautifully said! Praise God for His goodness and love toward us! Thank you Jesus!

Ambassadors to Colombia

The Lord continues to do wonderful things in our lives. He continues to lead and guide us and continues to put His desires in our hearts. Missions is something that we love and suppport and hope to do someday; however, we never had clarity of what or when or where. We always thought of going back to Latin America, but we knew that right now was not the time.

About a month ago we went to a missions conference at church and were so challenged and encouraged by it. It was amazing! The missions conference was more focused on the 10/40 window which is a place that we never have considered before. After the missions conference was over we came home with such a heavy heart, so Matt and I prayed to God "Lord, we are willing vessels to go wherever and whenever you want to send us. Lead us Lord. We are willing." We have prayed this simple prayer before and we have seen the Lord just place things in our laps days later.

All this to say that again, our faithful Lord has placed something in our laps and in this case it's a great opportunity to go to Colombia! We are excited. Rebekah and I will not be going(physically) but of course WE as a family are going in Spirit. Matt will be heading down there in a couple of weeks with a wonderful team and will be doing door to door evangelism and training Colombian nationals to do the same after they leave in order to equip them to continue the work of the Lord in Colombia. They will be partnering with a church to plug the new believers into the body of Christ. Matt is so excited about this opportunity and we are so confident that this is the Lord's doing and not ours. This gives me so much peace. I am so excited as well.

Please pray! This is Matt's request as well, "Click here for our prayer calendar and I would ask that all of you PLEASE PRAY for us. Nothing we are doing is possible without the Lord's power, protection, and guidance. We NEED YOU to be praying for us as we go."