Oh man. Mike took a picture of our meal tonight and it just didn’t do it justice! I made Mediterranean quinoa for the first time tonight. Yum, yum, triple yum. I had so much fun making this healthy dinner in my new kitchen tonight. I had a glass of wine, cranked Miles Davis, and went to town. The recipe came from my “Feeding the Whole Family” cookbook. Some of the yummy ingredients? Quinoa, of course. Mint, Italian parsley, fresh lemon juice, currants, feta, and green onions. I served with a salad, homemade miso dressing, and crusty bread (which I vow will be the last store-bought dinner bread I buy! Too expensive!). Mike made a table for our kitchen and we ate there tonight with our pretty white plates. And guess what else? I made extra quinoa and have a starter dough fermenting for a couple loaves of whole grain bread I’m going to attempt to make tomorrow. Woot! Loving my new kitchen, can you tell?
I can’t believe tomorrow will mark our first week in Portland. We have been busy, busy setting up house and at this point, we are excited to be DONE unpacking! Just a few more days left until new carpet is installed upstairs and all will be right with the world….well, at least, in our house. This is a big ol’ old house we live in now. It seems the projects could potentially be endless in this place and I’ve been making mental notes to slow it down, be content with not getting everything done and settled by week one, and I’ve also been taking note that when we own a home someday, the projects can wait – because they’ll always be there. All this to say, we have a lot more space now – and it’s amazing. It’s funny, we’ve always lived in less than 1000 square feet, so we’re used to unpacking in a couple days and moving on with life. This house feels like a mansion to us in comparison to our cozy little places! We’re loving our neighborhood and our new brothers and sisters here. Also, we’ve met most of our immediate neighbors already and there are so many kids just steps away! Today, our next door neighbors brought a plate of cookies over to welcome us to the neighborhood. Their oldest son is five and let me tell you what, Jude is in heaven. Benny too. They have a mini playground in their backyard and a sandbox. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun next door this summer.
Maybe you’re wondering how I’m settling in? How my heart is doing. I honestly feel like I’m still in a little bit of a fog. Everyone knows that moving is hectic as can be. There’s all the packing beforehand, the saying goodbye, the anticipation…then there’s the moving in, settling down, feeling out a new city. There’s a lot to take in and I’ve been a slow mover. I have so much peace about making Portland my home. I don’t feel rushed and yet I do feel like there’s a little incubation period to be had, if that makes sense at all. Just time to chill a little, get our bearings, prayerfully consider who the Lord would have us minister to, get our family going on some sort of a routine again…I did have a moment last night while we were out a restaurant just up the road. I don’t necessarily miss Issaquah, the city. I love Portland. But it hit me that it really takes time to be known. And having developed some of the richest relationships to date in Issaquah, I’m encouraged to continue living a life that’s…available. Open. Honest. Vulnerable. True. With the help of Jesus – who so graciously imparts such loving friends in the first place – friendships will once again blossom and bloom here in P-Town. So I guess, it isn’t that I’m lonely or anything like that. Life is simply…different now. What’s coming is unknown, yet I love the adventure.
God’s really been working on my heart this week. I see that today. I recognize him showing me that regardless of any chaos, peace is available to me. Chaos need not effect how I talk to my children, how I talk to my husband. Where I live, what I do…these things don’t define me. Neither does a calm and peaceful house, obedient children, thriving relationships. Jesus defines me. In order for that to be true, I have to believe it. If I believe it, I stop amidst the chaos and give thanks to Him who has allowed everything to pass through his hands. Then, peace. It’s a beautiful thing, really. I may not know how this Portland life will pan out, but I’m reminded that neither Issaquah nor Portland is my home. Heaven is my home. I want everything I do to be done with that in mind. Sure puts life in perspective. God moved us to this place, there is no doubt in my mind about that. He will lead the way. Again, peace.
The boys are adjusting well. Mike has been working hard on the house and has, as always, been the steady rock for me. I ventured out with a new friend today and finally did a bit of grocery shopping. For those who know me well, I LOVE Winco. Bulk bins? Oh yeah, baby. (Unfortunately I didn’t read the price well enough on the darn pine nuts I bought today though. Sheesh! $13 for pine nuts! Oy.) Anyway, I was so excited to be grocery shopping, so excited to be at Winco, and so excited to be in Portland, I just wanted to talk to everyone. There was mucho joy in my heart. There is right now as I write. It may be a little frustrating not being able to unpack because of the carpet situation, but Jesus orchestrated that too.
Not much else to report folks. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated. The boys picked up colds this week and I’m sure would like to feel better. We’ve had amazing sunny weather here all week. Our house gets awesome sunshine and light and is super cozy. Can’t wait to get the fireplace going on the next rainy day.
More soon!
Yep, the Furubotten’s are on the move. Where, you wonder? Patience, my friends. This is something God’s been teaching me (painfully) over the past six months or so, so I pass it on to you. Ha ha! I do share that change is in the works mostly to ask for your prayers in the coming chapter in our life. In my life. God planted the idea of a particular place in our hearts a little over a year ago. I’m guessing I needed that long to finally give in to it. And now, I’m ready. Ready to go. Ready for a new adventure. But I’m a little nervous and still a little hesitant. Not bad things, really, though I do wish I were more resolved. It’s funny…Mike and I have moved seven times in our eight years of marriage. Be it across the state, or to an upstairs apartment from the downstairs. People. It’s all about people. Sure, God’s moving us to a very specific place, but when we get there, life will still be about people. We’ll be in a new city and we’ll love that city and it’ll be our city, but at the end of the day, what’s most important is how we first love God, and second, how we love the people he puts in our life. The difference with this move then the past seven though is that we have THREE babies now. It feels like such a game changer moving with kids. Mike and I were talking tonight about how we’ve moved in the past and have been super bold about how we went about it. We were wondering what’s different this time. Even why we haven’t just moved already? And we realized we just want to go a little slower this time. Be a little more sure. It’s silly really. The God who moved us to three different cities since we’ve been married, who gave us a place to live and at least two job offers within a couple days of moving to town – that same God is moving us again. Isn’t that funny? Every time we moved we moved without a job. Without financial security. We just moved because we knew God wanted us in a specific place. We trusted he’d provide for us. And he did. Every time. And here we are, teetering on the edge. Yep. Teetering. Teetering away. We’re making progress though, and I really look forward to sharing with you (all two of you who still read this blog that I never write on) our next adventure. For those of you who pray to a mighty King Jesus in heaven, please pray for me. I waver something ridiculous, and I’m honestly sick of it. Resolved. Yes! That’s what I want. Pray for THAT! Boo-yah.
On another note, life as a mama of three little boys is gooooooood. I spent a good long while reading books with Benny and Jude today, snuggled under the coziest blanket in the house. I love how Jude has to touch my hand when we’re reading together. And I love the challenge of reading in such a way that Benny will actually remain on the couch. Even if he’s sitting still, his eyes move every which way. I wish I could see in that little brain of his. Granted, Mike was just gone for three days and it was a little intense. They missed their dad and….so did I. It’s a lot of work putting the boys down alone and all of that. Mike’s the one who usually does that business. Anyway, regardless, he’s home now and all is right with the world. He’s a good man, my Mike. A great man.
I’m trying to think of anything else…… Jude turned four. I was pretty emotional on his birthday because I realized that my next party to plan is Si’s! He’s going to be ONE! How did that happen? You’re probably all in shock that I’m not pregnant already. Hahahahahahahahaha! Well, I’m definitely not, in case any of you wanted to know. Poor Silas. If we don’t have any more, I’m going to be holding him like he’s my little baby when he’s five. Maybe even sixteen, who knows.
Alright then. This posts turning into a long one about nothing. So glad we got a chance to reconnect, my loyal readers! Much love, much love.
Following Benny around the house today. Man, diapers sure are easier.
Here’s my tool kit:
Washrags
Towels
Baking soda/water solution
New undies
Timer
Here’s my plan, now that Benny has proven he can poo in the potty and pee on command:
Put Benny on the potty every thirty minutes when the timer goes off to pee.
When he has an accident, he helps me clean it up completely.
Don’t leave the house unless I’m feeling very, very brave ( and have prayed for mucho patience and am prepared to extend grace when there’s an accident).
If leaving the house, bring toolkit (especially if going to someone’s house) and fresh clothes.
Only use a diaper at nap and bed time – no matter what.
Be ALL IN! IN IT TO WIN IT! GO TEAM! POTTY TRAINED OR BUST! (Repeat these and other encouraging mantras all day, as necessary.)
Do the “pee pee in the potty” dance every time he does it successfully. (Thanks Shannon for this tip!)
Pray, pray, pray…and make potty training fun!
Do you have any other tips for me?
It was a beautiful summer evening last night. We ate dinner in the sun then headed out for a walk. Both boys had their helmets on. Jude brought his little bike and Ben was ready to ride Mike’s longboard with him down the paved trail just shy of a block from our house. Si was in the umbrella stroller wearing just a little white onesie and Mike’s biking cap. C-U-T-E! His legs are so chunky and white. Both of the older boys had rosy faces before they even started riding.
We walked down to the trail and as soon as we hit it, all the big guys took off. Si and I putted along, watching them go. You know how when the sun starts to go down and that beautiful glow casts on everything? Last night was especially glorious as the trail is lined with forest on both sides and the trees create a canopy above. And there in the distance was my darling family, framed by trees and glowing light. The boys looked so little.
I probably don’t have to tell you that my heart was full, looking at them. Looking at the family God has blessed me with. Many things ran through my head. Especially the thought that this is such a blip in my life. The boys will only be little for a blip. All the more reason to embrace each day, one day at a time. To savor it. Put my whole heart into it. I thought about how Jesus sacrificed everything for me and how my family is surely a blessing from Him. A result of God’s love toward me. Why wouldn’t I, in light of this love, lay it all down like Jesus did, for my family? Lay myself aside. Serve them with all I’ve got.
As I was watching them in the distance, and looking down at those adorable little chunky Silas legs, I thought my heart would burst open. And then it hit me. Eternity with Jesus will be unimaginably greater than what I felt right then. Unimaginably. All these little daily glimpses of beauty point to a perfect King who will make all things right. Who will blend every beautiful moment into another. There won’t be the ups and downs that I experience every day or the guilt I experience when I snap at my children or when I’m not the friend I wish I was. There will only be one crazy full heart, like I experienced last night – times a million to five (in the words of my Jude).
I’m still studying Galatians. This morning, Keller included this (below quote) in the study section for Galatians 1:10-2:21. (I really need to get a link up for this study…) Why include a section of Ephesians if the study is on Galatians? Keller is displaying Paul’s role as an apostle. In the above mentioned Galatians section, Paul has just revealed his story – the why, how, and when he became a believer. In Christ, there is a distinct purpose and call on his life. Just as there is in ours who believe!
One of the glories of Christianity is the assurance that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”(Ephesians 2:10). This statement by Paul that we are “created” does not simply refer to our physical formation, as God has, of course, created all human beings (see Genesis1:26-27). Rather, Paul is talking about being “created in Christ.” It means that every person who believes in Christ does so because she or he is the object of a process of God’s “spiritual creation.” The word workmanship is very important; it is the Greek word poema from which we get our word “poem.” It means that every believer is essentially a work of art — God’s art! Consider how artists work, whether they are writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, etc. They labor long and hard and with the utmost care and detailed attention. Sometimes they do very little, only a stroke here or there. Other times they make massive changes. But always they seek to bring the raw material into line with an artistic vision. Thus Paul is telling us that God labors over all believers throughout our entire lives, intervening and guiding and shaping us to bring us into line with a vision he has for us. This is mentioned also in Ephesians 2:10 — “created to… good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Thus, God has a particular set of “good works” for us to do, for which he prepares us our whole lives.
It is therefore of utmost importance to look back on our lives and see everything that has happened through this grid, namely that:
- God has been at work through the various influences of our lives— “created in Christ.” All of our experiences and troubles and our family and friends must be seen as the instruments of an artist used to mold and shape us. He has been at work in all of our lives!
- God has been at work to make us something beautiful — “workmanship.” God is out to make our beings something great—to give us characters of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, integrity, humility and self-control.
- God has been at work to make us something useful — “good works… prepared beforehand.” God is also out to make our doings something great — to make us helpful and able to serve others in special ways.
Wow. My heart’s spinning after reading these articles by Rachel Jankovic. I’m seriously considering adding her book to my (already too enormous) book list after reading her posts.
Would love to hear your thoughts after you read her posts on motherhood! Go get ‘em, mamas! Love those beautiful, precious, God-given gifts today! You are equipped to love and care for your children, and your career as a mother is one of the most important you’ll ever work.
On a good morning, Mike asks the boys a couple questions from this book at breakfast time. They love it. Check it out.
This lady can SING! Patty Griffin is, hands down, my favorite artist. Check this out.
I recently started studying Galatians and am using a workbook created by Tim Keller as I go along. It’s fabulous. This morning, I read this excerpt from Martin Luther, explaining how to “speak the gospel” to yourself when your mind and heart lead you away from the righteousness attributed to you – by nothing you have done or can do – through faith in Christ:
So learn to “speak the gospel” to one’s heart. For example, when the law creeps into your conscience, learn to be a cunning logician —learn to use arguments of the gospel against it. Say:
O law! You would climb up into the kingdom of my conscience, and there reign and condemn me for sin, and would take from me the joy of my heart which I have by faith in Christ, and drive me to desperation, that I might be without hope. You have overstepped your bounds. Know your place! You are a guide for my behavior, but you are not Savior and Lord of my heart. For I am baptized, and through the gospel am called to receive righteousness and eternal life… So trouble me not! For I will not allow you, so intolerable a tyrant and tormentor, to reign in my heart and conscience — for they are the seat and temple of Christ the Son of God, who is the king of righteousness and peace, and my most sweet savior and mediator. He shall keep my conscience joyful and quiet in the sound and pure doctrine of the gospel, through the knowledge of this passive and heavenly righteousness.
When we are assured of this righteousness, we not only cheerfully work well in our vocations, but we submit to all manner of burdens and dangers in this present life, because we know that this is the will of God, and that this obedience pleases him.
We (our whole family) had a rough start this morning. It was loud, chaotic, no one got any sleep last night, Mike was running late, the walls felt like they were closing in on us… Phew. I write that all out and it sounds so…dramatic, doesn’t it? Now that I’ve stepped back, and in light of Luther’s wisdom when he says, “Nothing gives peace like this passive righteousness,” I’m reminded that yes, Jesus has done everything for me. Everything. I can’t discipline my kids perfectly, not even close. I can’t keep my house clean enough all the time in order to stave off discontent of such small quarters. I can’t be a good friend, a good wife, a good neighbor on my own. Why? Because nothing in me is good except that which has been given to me through Jesus. I can’t work myself into contentment, perfect disciplinarian, awesome friend. But I can be at peace with who I am in the Lord and surrender to and accept what He’s already done. I can live in freedom. And where there’s freedom, there’s peace.
I wish I could move on from thinking and typing this out and expect a day filled with me skipping through fluffy clouds, or flowery fields, or whatever else I might imagine to be fairly carefree. The truth is that I am called through Scripture to ACTIVELY put on the truth. Yes, the truth dwells in me. Only because of the truth am I able to faithfully depend on Christ to shape and change my attitude and heart, every moment. But I must surrender, every moment. Even now, my kids have been so sweet to give mama a little time to study this morning, and they’ve been great. But I hear them now, arguing over a truck or a shirt or something silly, and anger and annoyance rise up in an instant. Here is an opportunity to put on grace, joy, peace. Not by my own works, but through prayer and remembrance that Jesus has already bestowed these things on me. He died for me. I have all I need in Him. Why am I so easily shaken? Over such small things as trifles between my children?
Jesus, help me be like you. Help me dwell on how great you are today. Help me extend grace to my children and point to you in the process. Help me show them and everyone around me, through the righteousness you’ve granted that I didn’t work for, that you are truly the Prince of Peace. I desire it. I ask you for it. Thank you for being my precious King.
