Foolishness

I try to go in order of events because you know my OCD tendency (which I got from you!) but this just couldn't wait and I am a bit behind on a few other posts! A year ago I would have called you up to talk to you about this and gotten your wise advise and wonderful listening ear. But since I am stuck "talking" to you on here, so here it goes.
  The last few weeks (really during our trip to Hawaii) Bryan and I have been talking about the direction our family is headed, what we want to change, where we want to end up, etc. One thing that has been so hard for me personally is the fact that my calling, convictions, and beliefs are so different than most. Even among other believers. It's not easy feeling like you are the odd one out, and when I do find other women/families like ours it is such a huge blessing to know I am not the only "crazy" one. I have always been a people pleaser, I don't like confrontation, and I don't like people to not like me. Silly I know, but it's how I have always been! However, lately I have gotten to this weird point of, I don't care. I don't need people to think that how we live our life is "ok" or even the "right way". We are living our life the way GOD has told us to, and that is all He expects of us! I could stress all day about what foods we eat (organic, non GMO, etc. Bleh!), how much/little tv my kids watch etc., but does that really matter? NO! I want my kids to grow up in a home that parents based on the Bible, not current parenting trends, not what "everyone else is doing" but straight from His Word and straight from His heart. The last day or two I was really feeling like a fool for lack of a better word, and while cleaning off my IPod for ballet I came across this song that you used to listen to all the time, "God's Own Fool" by Michael Card. It quite literally smacked me in the face and brought me to tears because it reminded me what I always knew, it's ok to be a fool in the world's eyes...in fact dare I say it's what we are supposed to look like if we live according to His plan and purpose! So the Spears family can forever be known as "fools" and I really don't care! I don't care how anyone else lives their life, raises their kids, etc. This is how WE have chosen to live and foolish or not, we would be going against our conscience if we tried to live any other way!
We welcome as many children as God will give us 

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28 "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3

We will school them in a home-Christian environment
We will teach our children that life is precious from the moment of conception

 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16

We will discipline our kids in love

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

I will talk well about my husband

  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Proverbs 31:23 

I will be home to care for my family

 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31:27-28.

 Is it "old fashioned"? Nope, it's living how HE called us to live, and the only one we will answer to one day is our Heavenly Father!

"God's Own Fool"

Seems I've imagined Him all of my life
As the wisest of all of mankind
But if God's Holy wisdom is foolish to men
He must have seemed out of His mind

For even His family said He was mad
And the priests said a demon's to blame
But God in the form of this angry young man
Could not have seemed perfectly sane

Chorus
When we in our foolishness thought we were wise
He played the fool and He opened our eyes
When we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong
And so we follow God's own fool
For only the foolish can tell-
Believe the unbelievable
And come be a fool as well

So come lose your life for a carpenter's son
For a madman who died for a dream
And you'll have the faith His first followers had
And you'll feel the weight of the beam
So surrender the hunger to say you must know
Have the courage to say I believe
For the power of paradox opens your eyes
And blinds those who say they can see

Chorus

So we follow God's own Fool
For only the foolish can tell
Believe the unbelievable,
And come be a fool as well
 
Your Favorite Second Born,
Carley
                                 Thanks for being my real life example of God's Own Fool! 

 

A 4 year old's grief

If there is one thing I was not prepared for it was how much your death would affect Colin. I guess I was so focused on how I would cope, I hadn't really thought about how he would do! In his little 4 year old mind he doesn't understand the concept of death. But it has given me the opportunity to teach him that this life here on earth is not our home, our home is in Heaven with our Redeemer. He now looks forward to Jesus return more than ever and I get asked frequently when the "new heaven and the new earth will be here so I can see my grandpa again and show him all my new toys and teach him how to play lego Batman on the Wii!" Lots of tears have been flowing since yesterday and I hadn't really thought too much about the date that was coming. Until mom brought it to my attention that today was the 13th...your 8 month heavenly birthday! Somehow even without being aware it was coming, he just knew it was your "birthday" and has been shedding many tears over it. First at preschool yesterday, then at lunch time, then later after nap, and again this afternoon. While doing his Cubbies book with him we came to a lesson that talks about our ability to talk and share with God anything we want. It asks the kids to draw something that they talk to God about. Immediately he says, "I talk to God about how much I miss my grandpa and want him back!" So he drew a picture of you and told me, "I drew crazy hair just like my grandpa had!" with a big smirk on his face! He really misses you daddy and I have to say we all share those feelings! Our hearts still ache, our minds still cannot grasp that you are not here anymore, and our deepest desire is to be reunited with you and Jesus in Heaven forever! This place is not our home!
Your Favorite Second Born,
Carley