Big Picture

We are definitely into the year now. Micah and I have made plans for each month and even more plans for each week~ all the while hoping we have strength and energy for each day. It is difficult for me to remember that each day- more specifically each moment- I am a participant either consciously or unconsciously in a bigger story. Somehow, God is writing His story through my trips to the grocery store, cleaning the bathrooms (not as much as I maybe should:)), reading books to the boys, folding my husband's t-shirts, being stuck in traffic, inviting guests over for dinner, cleaning all the papers off the desk, paying the bills etc. etc. etc. This truth is astounding and comforting.

Recently, I was struck by this passage in Hebrews 11 after describing life-long faith; particularly the faith of Abraham and his family:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

I in no way am comparing my life to the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, or Jacob. I just think for sure they had mundane moments-Sarah sweeping out the tent or preparing another meal or Abraham, mending his sandals or carrying his sons on his shoulders- just like my experience. I am grateful that my unconsciousness does not affect eternal outcome in the slightest and that God is always conscious of all things and working toward our ultimate realization of His glory.

A more contemporary way of expressing this same realization I found in a Christine Dente song:

So I listen in and I hear the song

From another country and I sing along

And I play my part as the story goes

And the difference that it will make is yet to be told

All my life

Is an answer to the invitation

To be a part of the conversation

Living in a bigger story

All this time

Is history-in-the-making

Always headed for a destination

To take my place in a bigger story

This is where you all find me today. Now to zoom in on the other members of the Childs family. As for Micah, I have watched as God has turned my husband slowly into a businessman for the glory of God:) He has had some great opportunities with Chick-fil-a. In this economy, we are so thankful for God's provision for us. He worked at a Grand Opening a couple of weeks ago in Indiana and got great experience serving and leading a new store staff. He has consistency and resolute endurance that I am afraid I will never posses. He is truly gifted in his job. It is truly a complement to him that the minute he comes home, the boys joyfully announce his arrival. We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary on March 1. How do two selfish, in many ways opposite people make it 11 years? First, we have been loved much and forgiven much. Secondly, the two-movies-at-a-time plan from Netflix helps:)

Andrew has almost finished his preschool book- every last page! He is diligent to complete each exercise and most of the time begs me to "do school"! He is really enjoying being read to right now. We have almost finished "The Magician's Nephew" from the Chronicles of Narnia series. He is looking forward to a summer full of bicycle riding, swimming, and hitting a baseball farther and farther up in the air.

Elijah keeps us laughing most of the time. We look at him, in his two-and-a-half year old stature and are constantly amazed at his vocabulary. He stored up quite a vocabulary while being mostly silent for two years. He is constantly coming up with the craziest things to say. Our favorites lately are:

"I can't eat this chicken. It makes me hiccups."
"Can you shoot me up to the (basketball) net?"
"You be the superhero... I'll be the good, bad guy."

Here they are at Meijer grocery shopping. Elijah was pushing the cart with Andrew guiding the front.