In God We Trust

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-god-we-trust-house-re-affirms-national-motto--yet-again/2011/11/02/gIQAiZRWfM_story.html


It's our national motto -- In God We Trust! 


I starting thinking of all the things we "trust," and it is scary. We trust that when we come to a railroad crossing that lights will come on and a safety arm will lower to prevent us from driving into danger on the tracks. Deadly accidents have occurred when there is a malfunction and no warning is given. How often do we just trust the safety features to work? How often do we fly over the tracks without looking for a train? Should we trust a man-made warning device? 


We trust jumbo jets. Well, some of us trust jumbo jets. Answerbag.com figures that every day, 1,500,000 passengers step onto a plane and put their trust in the huge machine designed to defy gravity. They trust that their pilot, whom they likely have never met, is competent to operate the machine, and they trust that all the mechanics of the plane are in optimal condition and capable of completing the flight. Should we trust that when we board a plane that we will arrive at our destination safely?


We trust our smoke alarm. We trust that the first sign of smoke will be detected and an alarm will sound before harm is done to our families. We trust that a little battery that powers that alarm is charged enough to operate the small device. Sure, we can "test" the alarm and it beeps (Yeah, the alarm operates!!), but how do we know that all the detection properties of the electronic are in tip-top shape? We trust that in case of a fire the high-pitched shrill of an alarm will wake us in the deepest state of sleep. Should we sleep at night, trusting that a man-made detection device will indeed protect us from disaster?


When we go to a restaurant to eat, we trust that the food that is prepared for us is made of high-quality ingredients and that the food preparers use proper hygiene. We trust that the food will be nourishing, and not contaminated with disease. We trust that all the individuals involved in the food have our best interest in mind when doing their part in the food industry. Should we?


Well, we could go on and on about things and people that we trust in. I propose that instead of trusting in people and machines that we return to our national motto and start trusting God again. He is, after all, the controller of the universe. All the laws of nature that we assume to be true don't apply to Him. He can override them on a whim. Anything we call "impossible" is possible with God -- at the snap of His finger. His very qualities are unfathomable -- a God who is everywhere, knows everything and everyone, and hears everything. No mind can begin to comprehend the complexity and power of our God. 


I admit, there are days that I don't want to "bother" God with all my petty requests. I think I can handle the little stuff and bring the big stuff, the overwhelming stuff, to God when it feels like more than I can handle. So, where does that put my trust? Sometimes I trust too much in myself, and in others. And, as a result, I forget that it is God who gives me EVERYTHING!! It is God who has blessed me in amazing ways!! I forget to thank Him and begin to focus more on myself and how smoothly I can keep things running around here. 


I forget how quickly God can humble me. I forget how a cancer diagnosis can change my life here on earth. I forget how quickly a natural disaster can take all my personal possessions. I forget how a car accident can steal my mobility and cause me to depend on others to handle simple daily tasks. I forget how much I need God. I forget how POWERFUL God is. 


So, I am going to find ways to make sure that each day I put my trust in God, with the little things as well as the big things. I am going to make sure that my prayer life reflects how much I treasure the relationship I have with God. 


So, our Congress in 1956 decided to adopt "In God We Trust" as our national motto. And the debate will likely continue. Perhaps it will not be taught in schools. Perhaps it will disappear from our currency. But if we teach it to the next generation they will not forget why our nation has been incredibly blessed. 


I close with my favorite Psalm. Psalm 121.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm —
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Off to Camp

I think Emily was pretty excited to go to camp. 

Here is Emily with a few friends in their cabin before they ran off for supper. I can't wait to pick her up and hear all about the adventures she's had.

The Flocks are Migrating

These mysterious birds have been migrating to random lawns each day for the last week. Perhaps you have seen them in the area. What are they for?? They are promoting the upcoming Vacation Bible School that is being hosted by the Christian Churches of LaHarpe. We are raising money for our VBS mission, Promise Packs through World Vision. Matthew and I, along with the girls, have been taxi-ing the birds around for the last week, and have had a blast. So, if you think your neighbor needs to add color to their lawn, let me know. For a donation of $25 we will "flock" the person of your choice!!

All dressed up for flocking!

It's Time for the Fair

Emily and Megan participated in the PeeWee Swine Show at the Hancock County 4-H Fair in Carthage. Each of them showed a hog, along with their cousin. A lot of kids showed up to get experience in the show ring with these pigs, and it looked like they all had a lot of fun. Each child showed a pig, talked to the judge and received a trophy for participating. 

Cooling Off

With the HOT temperatures, we have been drawn to the pool. Here are a few shots of the kids having a blast to beat the heat.

Celebrate America!!

Emily and Megan rode on a float in the 4th of July parade in Carthage on Wednesday for Celebration School of Dance. It was a fun morning watching all the floats go by and being entertained by music. Matthew, Eli and I hung out with the Kreps family, so there are a few photos of the three middle boys collecting candy. 

Sam and Becca

Toby & Josh checking out the candy

Emily sweating out the parade in patriotic style!

Megan and her friend Gianna handed out popsicles.

Eli was happiest with a dum-dum in his mouth, and one in his other hand. Hey, you gotta have a back-up dum-dum!

Picnic Pedaling

We went up to the B-ville picnic for the pedal tractor pull on Sunday morning.

I tried to snap a photo before she got off,
but she flew off the seat like it was on fire!!! 

Congratulations on Emily's second place finish!

Independence Day Kittens!

I noticed this morning that our momma cat was considerably thinner this morning. What fun to watch the girls search for the litter. They went from building to building with hopes of getting the first glimpse of the sweet kittens. By supper, they had not found them and Matthew suggested that they look in our old bike trailer. They raced out the door and came bursting in a few minutes later reporting that there were five new kittens. So, we welcome our Independence Day kittens to the farm, and wish them many years of good mouse hunting!

When It Rains, It Pours!!

I wish the title to this post was a literal reference to our current weather forecast, but it isn't. We could use a lot of rain, but our forecast for the next week includes four days above 100 degrees and very slight chances for rain. Instead, the title refers to the level of excitement at our house over the past few days. 


Our sweet little boy loves to put things places. We have found chapstick in the shower, hairspray in the kitchen cupboard, toys in the refrigerator and dishwasher, balls in the trash can, and shoes under the couch. He is so busy, and I love that. Last night he decided that the toilet would be a nice place to put our telephone. I had to keep a sense of humor as I fished the telephone from the bowl, with Eli watching me. Despite our valiant efforts to rescue the phone, we declared the phone inoperable this morning. This was only the beginning of our "excitement."


I have never claimed to have much coordination and what happened this morning proves it. While attempting to sweep the kitchen floor, I ran into a chair. OUCH! So, now I am hobbling around on a painful, swollen toe. This one's going to take awhile to recover.  But at least I took time to add cute nail stickers to my toes this morning before the injury!! 

Well, injured or not, the day must go on the housework must be done. So, I begin to unload the dishwasher and notice disgusting dirty brown dishwater standing in the bottom of the dishwasher. I close the door and push the "drain" button. Nothing. I try it again. Still nothing. There must be something plugging the drain. I fish around in the disgusting water (I am getting used to putting my hands in disgusting water.) and cannot find anything plugging the tub. I decide I have done all I can and need to call in the Man of the House!! Plumbing issues are out of my league!


I am thrilled to get a phone call from a friend who found a used jogging stroller for sale. It is an answer to a prayer that I have been offering up to God for a long time now, and I am excited! The only drawback is that the stroller is in Mt. Sterling and must be picked up tonight, or will be sold to someone else. Megan has dance in Carthage tonight, so how can I get to Mt. Sterling to pick up the stroller? Another answered prayer is that a friend, who happens to live in Mt. Sterling, is in LaHarpe tonight, and will be in Macomb tomorrow. So, after a series of phone calls back and forth between the seller of the stroller and my friend, we have a pick-up arrangement, and I get the kids ready to head out the door for dance class. 


As we are leaving, I notice that it is rather warm in the house. I check the air conditioner and it is not working -- again. We have had trouble with it the last week. So, I call Matthew on my way to LaHarpe to let him know that the house may be toasty-warm when he gets home from work.


Praise God that our drive to LaHarpe, and then to Carthage was uneventful. And, I enjoyed visiting with a friend while at dance lesson. She and her family have experienced a period of "excitement" recently and it was great to hear how each of their "fires" were put out!


So, we journeyed home to enjoy supper. Oh, wait. I forgot to thaw out the beef that was going to be our supper. We stop by the grocery store to pick up milk and eggs, and decide to get some fried chicken for supper. At least we'll eat before 8:00 -- or so I think!


We get home and Matthew, my plumbing hero, has taken the dishwasher apart. He pulls off a piece, and all that lovely dirty dishwater pours out all over the floor. We scramble to put down a LOT of towels. I never knew a dishwasher held so much water! Unbelievable! And, alas, Matthew finds the rather small problem that has flooded our kitchen with grossness -- a small piece of fat from a piece of meat. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Matthew! 


I decide to try the air conditioner to see if it will run. Cool air comes flowing from the vents and within an hour the house is comfortable again. God is good!


After cleaning up the kitchen we sit down to our fried chicken, and it is 8:00! And I am more than ready for this day to end and I welcome a good night of sleep. And I look forward to a new adventure for tomorrow, because I am convinced that God is good, that He answers prayer and that my strength comes from Him.

Doing the Strut in Carthage

This morning we awakened early to strut down to the Strawberry Strut in Carthage. Matthew had trained to run their five-mile run and finished 4th place overall despite the heat and hills. Way to go, Matthew. (I say this halfway sarcastically because his trophy shelf has reached capacity and I think he can slow it down a little.) But I am seriously proud of him!

Emily, Megan and I ran the 1-mile fun run and were joined by a friend, Ellie. We had a fantastic run, and all of the girls did a great job, each of them setting a PR! Megan even came home with a 1st place ribbon, which she proudly hung next to her bed. 

Way to go! I love it that they are enjoying a sport that Matthew and I love. 

Waiting for Daddy to finish!

June by the Numbers

Well, June has been the busiest month of our year so far. Lots of great events and lots of family time, but I have to admit that I was anxious to flip the calendar to July. So I thought it would be fun to reflect on the month, by the numbers!!

1 graduation party
2 doctor appointments
2 parades
3 races run (Matthew ran 3, the girls and I ran 2)
1 dance performance at Sodbuster Days
2 board meetings
9 softball games
3 t-ball games
3 tumbling lessons
1 evening volunteering
1 home group get-together
1 piano lesson
8 swimming lessons
2 birthday cakes baked and consumed
1 camp meeting 
1 birthday pizza party
1 Father's Day lunch
2 friends overnight
2 birthday parties
5 days of VBS
2 library story hours
2 picnics at the park
1 date night
2 praise team practices and worship
1 trip to Bonkers
2 Little Miss & Master's practices
1 Little Miss & Masters pageant
1 craft led at church camp
1 visit to Niners camp to visit nephew
1 day of day camp for Megan and her cousin, Rachel
1 campout in the yard
1 morning of babysitting
2 VBS meetings
4 days at the B-ville picnic

2 lemon shake-ups (mmmmmm!!)

countless late nights up past midnight

And on top of all of this -- meals and dishes and laundry and shopping. No wonder I'm exhausted!!!!