Friendship...?

Tomorrow Friday March 20th I leave to go on my church's Women's retreat in Sumas, WA.
The title Abundance of friendship.... yes the entire weekend is about friendship. Not really sure what I think about that. But I can tell you ever since i signed up alot has been stirring in my mind and my heart. I don't have alot of super close friends, I have friends and people I do thing with but I am not sure I have that one friend that would be there for me in a heartbeat. I use to have those friends but things in life changed. I don't know what but things changed and those friendships are now lunches every 3-6 months or emails every now and then. Do I miss those friends? Yes, Yes I do but I don't miss the going out all the time, being away from my family, feeling like I had to choose. I don't think those friends knew my heart. I generally don't let people in that close anymore, been hurt too many times. I guess I got tired of being judged, maybe those weren't true friends.

here is a devtional i got the other day that I have really been thinking about...
Friends Who Help You Strengthen Your Character
by Steve Arterburn

As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

The dictionary defines the word “friend” as “a person who is attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.” This definition is accurate, as far as it goes, but when we examine the deeper meaning of friendship, many more descriptors come to mind: trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, kindness, understanding, forgiveness, encouragement, humor, and cheerfulness, to mention but a few. Needless to say, our trusted friends and family members can help us discover God’s unfolding purposes for our lives. Our task is to enlist our friends’ wisdom, their cooperation, their honesty, and their encouragement.

If you genuinely want to strengthen your character, you need to build closer relationships with people who want to do the same. That’s why fellowship with likeminded believers should be an integral part of your life. Your friendships should be uplifting, enlightening, encouraging, and (above all) character-building.

Are your friends the kind of people who encourage you to seek God’s will and to obey God’s Word? If so, you’re choosing your friends wisely.

When you build lasting friendships that are pleasing to God, friendships with godly men and women whose values are admirable and whose intentions are honorable, you will be richly blessed. But if you find yourself spending time with folks whose priorities are as questionable as their ethics, you’re treading on dangerous ground. So here’s an invaluable tip for character building: be careful, very careful, how you choose your friends.

As you’re making friendships, be less concerned with appearances and more concerned with integrity. Resolve to be a trustworthy, encouraging, loyal friend to others. And make sure that you appreciate the genuine friends who, by their presence and their love, make you a better person. Friendship is, after all, a glorious gift, praised by God. Give thanks for that gift and nurture it.

Inasmuch as anyone pushes you nearer to God, he or she is your friend. Barbara Johnson

God often keeps us on the path by guiding us through the counsel of friends and trusted spiritual advisors. Bill Hybels

Character builderToday, as you think about the nature and the quality of your friendships, remember the first rule of making (and keeping) friends: it’s the Golden Rule, and it starts like this: “Do unto others . . . .” View this Daily Devotion at NewLife.com

so I am very anxious for this weekend and whats in store- what will happen How my heart will be on Sunday when I arrive home.

Aaron is also coming with me- 6 weeks old and his first trip away. I am anxious about that, getting sleep, not disturbing everyone and taking away from their time and experience.
Being over 2 hours away from home with him. I guess i need to find some peace about all this and just let it be. I am not the one in control :-)

The box

after Aaron was born our good friends from church delivered meals. One of the ladies brought a nice big box -probably from Costco. the box has stayed in the house and has been used as a pirate ship, a chair, hide n go seek spot, train car, table , and a store front.

A simple box has brought so much joy, imagination and it has been a great gift.

here's to the simple things that bring us joy!

What role....

This came to me today from Ransomed Heart Minstry. It really made me stop and think, i guess because today is my 39th birthday and i look back and wonder what did happen to all those dreams. My how the role has changed over the years.... so what role do i play now?

We come into the world with a longing to be known and a deep-seated fear that we aren’t what we should be. We are set up for a crisis of identity. And then, says Frederick Buechner, the world goes to work:

Starting with the rather too pretty young woman and the charming but rather unstable young man, who together know no more about being parents than they do the far side of the moon, the world sets in to making us what the world would like us to be, and because we have to survive after all, we try to make ourselves into something that we hope the world will like better than it apparently did the selves we originally were. That is the story of all our lives, needless to say, and in the process of living out that story, the original, shimmering self gets buried so deep that most of us hardly end up living out of it at all. Instead, we live out all the other selves which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather. (Telling Secrets)

Think about the part you find yourself playing, the self you put on like a costume. Who cast you in this role? Most of us are living out a script that someone else has written for us. We’ve not been invited to live from our heart, to be who we truly are, so we put on these false selves hoping to offer something more acceptable to the world, something functional. We learn our roles starting very young and we learn them well.

(The Sacred Romance , 84–85)

3.5 weeks

Aaron Smiling

Julia and Aaron

wow it's been 3.5 weeks. Aaron has now gained almost 2 lbs and currently weighs 8.12. He grew almost an inch. It has been a wild and crazy 3 weeks but i think the dust is settling.

i can already tell boys are so much different then girls. Aaron is so different then what i remember his sisters being like. which is great -it's a new adventure.

Toryn refers to Aaron as Lil Dude. she isn't that much into him but at 14 she has more important things to do and think about. All those friends!!

Tarah is so extremely helpful. She is already coaching Aaron on how to act especially "Aaron we don't get mad and scream!" it's cute. she calls him bean.

Julia- oh Julia loves her baby brother. she loves to help with everything. She calls him "big guy"

"mom how is big guy doing?" it is soo cute.

I can't wait for the weeks to come.

Aaron pictures

here are just a few pictures of Aaron.

Here is a note from Thursday Feb 12th.

We had our post partum check on tuesday. 10:30am.Wow I forgot what it was like to try and get out the door with a newborn. so much stuff.His weight dropped down to 6lbs 6ozs meaning he has lost over 12% of his body weight. 1 lb since birth.Bilirubin was checked with the machine and showed it being 18 which is a very HIGH number and means liver not functioing properly. They made us a pediactricain appt and lab appt. He hadn't been eating, peeing or pooping enough or at all. just sleeping alot. was very orange/yellow. My incisions were doing good and blood pressure back up to my normal low.We went to the lab where they did the cut on the foot to draw blood. Aaron didn't even cry.then home for lunch and then peds office.Blood work came back and showed bilirubin at 14.2 which is still high but okay alot better then 18. meaning right now no need for photolight therapy.

We have a strong feeding plan and have to chart everything. Man it's exhausting- writing down everytime he feeds- how much- how long- which side- what was it formula or breast milk- did he pee-poop- what time was it. not to mention me and my meds and tracking all the stuff i have to track.

The girls are doing so good- Julia loves helping and kissing/hugging her baby brother. The older girls are helping with dishes and laundry, dogs and helping with julia. Tarah is getting braces on monday- today goes in for xrays of teeth. Toryn had a high school programs info night last night. College classes you can take in high school and different programs available. Crazy- talking to one kid about life- education- college- careers and changing diapers on the youngest.

Tomorrow (Friday) we have a peds appt at 10am so we are hoping Aaron has gained lots of weight and bilirubin has dropped alot. We did the light therapy with Julia. She was strapped to a big huge light box for 5 days and we were only allowed to take her out and hold her every 2 hours for 20 minutes.

The bilirubin raised levels can be casued by a few things- blood compatiablity between infant and parents. liver function- premature baby-feeding not going well- sleeping too much.

I will try and update again after fridays appt.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and wishes. We certainly have been a busy house and do appercaite everything everyone has done for us this past week.

Aaron is here

Born Friday Feb 06, 2009
2:24AM
7lbs 6ozs
20 inches long
Term 38 weeks
Delivered via c-section
Apgar 7 and then 8

Aaron went to NICU due to long and breathing issues right after birth. I finally got to see him about 9am about 7 hours.
Marco stayed with him in NICU.
He came to the room about 9am and stayed with us until about 5pm then went back to NICU for a few hours due to lack of eating and continuing to have breathing issues.

Saturday he was down to 6 lbs 14 ozs
Sunday 48 hour check 6 lbs 10 ozs
Sunday check out time 6lbs 8 ozs.

His bilirubin is really high within 24 hours it was 11 and then 48 hour check was 13/12.4. Meaning he has Jaundice. It is possible he might have to start light therapy. Julia had this also and went away quickly with light therapy for a few days.

He also developed a weird blister like rash on his bum Saturday. We heard a lot of “I’ve never seen anything like that before” from a lot of nurses and docs. I figured it might be the diapers so we switched wipes and diapers to see and by today it was doing much better- hopefully it will be gone tomorrow.

The c-section went very well- my blood pressure was really low after and they had to watch me for several hours. I can’t drive for 10 days and can’t lift anything bigger then baby for 6 weeks.
No housework for 6 weeks either.

Tuesday and Friday we have doctor appts for baby this week to follow up on his weight, bilirubin levels and rash. Praying everything gets better really quick and we don’t have to take him back into the hospital. We were borderline on a lot of things but very grateful we are able to come home today.

Grandma came and stayed with the 3 girls at the house until we got home Sunday night. The girls are excited to have their baby brother home. They came to the hospital to visit 2-3 times a day while we were there. They had a fun weekend with grandma and all did house work and made cookies and cards for Aaron.

Being Thankful!

After reading one of the blogs I follow today it really made me think about being Thankful.
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ their lives were turned upside down last week.
Their home burnt to the ground, son had appendix out and their dog died all within 3 days. Yet they are thankful, faithful, praising God and clinging to Hope. I am thankful I still have my home, my belongings, my kids are happy and healthy and my animals are healthy and alive. I am grateful of the reminder that was given to us to be thankful for what we have and how forunate we are.

Another example of being thankful , Yesterday several friends were laid off and lost their jobs during the Microsoft cuts. 10 people I know, their lives all changed yesterday. Change is coming, wow didn't think it would happen so quickly to so many. Especially during these times when jobs are slim and companies aren't hiring. I am thankful for my job, the company I work for and how God keeps providing.

This morning right after I arrived at work a mini van lost control on 5th Avenue hit a car, continued down Madison to 3rd Avenue- hitting about 3-4 other cars and then finally stopping after slamming into a parked car which hit another parked car. The driver and passenger appeared okay but so many things could have happened. people on the sidewalks or walking across the street could have been hit, more cars damaged or people in the cars seriously hurt. But they weren't. I am thankful that everyone I know right now is ok, safe and out of harms way.

these are all reminders... Life is short, things do change, nothing is forever and we need to remain faithful in knowing our God loves us and will protect us and provide for us as he watches over us.

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne (1907-1979).