I was doing dishes this morning (I’m always doing dishes) and I had James sitting in a chair watching me.  All of a sudden his eyes got all red and he started saying, “Please Mommy? Please? Please Mommy?” so I kept asking him, “Please what?  Please Mommy WHAT?” and then he burst into tears and said, “Please mommy get my Coie” and then he stood up on his chair and reached into the kitchen towards the phone and said, “I call my Coie onna phone”.  That was enough to make *me* almost start bawling.

Yep, Coie is now in Cali.  I hope she has fun (sort of) – I think it’s going to be a long 11 days with just the seven of us.

Here are some pics right before she left.

BoBo loves this special brother/sister hair cutting time.  See how he simply glows with sunshiney delight?

Coie finally told him, "you ought not grump up because these pictures will probably get blogged and everybody is going to think you’re a bad attitude boy"

there, that’s a little better

here is Bobo practicng for Ringling Brothers.  All he needs now is a big red honkity-honk nose and some floppy shoes… it’s funny how kids grow into their names.

 He is training his brother, Dippy, to follow suit:

"Ok guys, now the rest of you pile in here with me" 

James is still in pre-clown training.  He hasn’t quite got the magic yet.  But he’ll grow into it.  He’s an Igarashi. It’s inevitable.  And yes, those are my glasses.

Here’s Coie… who knows what she’s doing.  I would venture to say that more than half the time she can’t even figure it out. 

Here is Geoff with Mr. Roy; they’re building a house. Doesn’t that look like fun? I didn’t think so either, but Geoff thinks it’s the greatest thing ever.  Boys are *so* weird. 

April 27th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Howdja like my new template?  It was a gift from Coie the Magnanimous. Also thanks to my little sister who sent me a card in the mail that had that music picture — isn’t it lovely? 

Look what we found Sunday morning before leaving for church:

I love having little kitties around.  Let’s see if they can survive Coie.  That girl has killed more kittens than you would believe. She *says* they were all accidents… I’ll be watching her.  But in the meantime, look how big my honker is!  I think I’m part aardvark. Come to think of it, I also have an unusually large forehead.  You could watch a drive-in movie on it.

Need a good laugh?  This was funny to me; Ryann found it on our friend Steve Sensenig’s blog.  Try this, it’s worth it: go here to Google maps

Then at the top click on “get directions” and then type in New York for the starting place and Oslo for the ending place.  Scroll down to step #24. Silly Google guys

April 24th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

I am feeling so tired and lazy today.  My kids are having a contest right now – my weirdo kids will do just about anything for a marshmallow– they are racing to see who can write the most correct prepositions.  Yep, the winner gets *one* solitary marshmallow.  I would totally try to lose that contest. Yuck. 

I always stress my kids out because I tell them that they are going to outgrow all of the things they like. I tell them stories about how when I was little I hoped, prayed and dreamed about growing up and eating TV Dinners every day of my life.  But now that I’m grown up, I hate TV Dinners.  I used to love cotton candy.  Gross.  I used to love corn dogs. Gross. I used to love roller coasters. YIKES.  I used to love watching cartoons… well, actually, I still do enjoy watching cartoons, but I don’t live for them like I used to.  I would wake up at 4 am on Saturday mornings in my great anticipation. 

My poor kids; they are hoping I am wrong and that they will always love marshmallows and cartoons and Baby Bottle Pops as much as they do now.  Aren’t I mean?  I do want them to have a clue though, that we grow and we change and we adjust with life.  And we don’t mourn the loss of our childish delights (I don’t, anyway).  We simply grow into things that are better.  It makes me think of the verse in Corinthians: 

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” 

I wonder what I will still end up outgrowing.  I hope I don’t outgrow my love of reading E.D.E.N Southworth books. Which reminds me: my wonderful most excellent dear friend came over on Tuesday and gave me a new Southworth book for my birthday.  YIPPEEEEE HOOOORAY!  She came over with two other very fun friends (and their families) and it was a really lovely day.  I am so thankful for good, godly friends!

Lastly, on a complete opposite note… this is very sad (and I won’t give her name), but when I was a brand new Christian and Geoff and I were about to get married, there was a very dear, godly woman who helped with our wedding; she was at all my baby showers; she would bring us meals and she encouraged me greatly in the Lord.  This woman was very dear to me and she died early this week. She was only about 10 years older I am and still has young children at home.  I am so grieved for her family; if it comes to mind, would you please pray for this precious family in California?  

April 19th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Relationships are interesting. As wives and mothers and friends, we have more power than we imagine.  Geoff  and I have been going thru an interesting book together and it has been touching on the direct and indirect ways that we ‘punish’ people who are not doing what we think they ought.  When humans get angry, they have a tendency to lash out, say hurtful things, become rude, accuse people of wrong doing, lie about them (intentionally or not), gossip, etc.  

But they also have a powerful tool to ‘punish’ others indirectly.  They withhold affection, they withhold kindness and courtesy.  They treat them ‘cooly’ or with a weird ‘indifference’.  They send signals that the relationship is not at all important to them as long as the other person either ‘doesn’t figure out what they did wrong (because in their mind it should be obvious)’ or unless they repent and change immediately. 

This is something that I try very hard to avoid, especially with my children and my husband.  When we punish others indirectly and withhold affection or warmth to ‘get a point across’, we only cause them to hate us.  They will believe that the relationship actually matters very little to us and that our affection, kindness and love depend on their actions. As Christians, we know this is purely demonic. 

 Relationship is key –  it is the grace, humility, love and kindness that they see in us (towards them) that will make them want to change (assuming that they need to change).  Harsh, unkind or sarcastic words, or ‘pulling away from the relationship’ are never biblical examples for resolving conflict.

We are to operate as a body (within our families and within outside relationships).  By maintaining relationship, even when there may be a serious issue to work thru, we show the other person that we have true Christian love, compassion and concern.  It is unlikely that our husband or our children (or anybody in general) will want to have much of a relationship with us, if they know that mistakes (or perceived mistake) will cause them to suffer.  ZAP! “Ok, you blew it – I’m going to treat you with indifference and without any warmth until: A) I get a chance to sit down and work thru the issues with you or B) until you take full responsibility for your bad behaviour”

This is ugly, ungodly, inexcusable behaviour.  I, personally, have been guilty of it and I am endeavoring to never let this type of actions either define me or to characterize any of my relationships.

If we truly love people, they will know it and they will feel it.  Even if we have a situation where a real sin issue needs to be confronted and dealt with, it is inexcusable to ‘punish’ the person during the interim. As wives, we are especially good at doing this to our husbands, aren’t we?  But we are not allowed to do that.  We must be patient, just as our Lord has been so patient with us.  Luckily, he does not deal with us ‘justly as we deserve’. 

Love is kind.  It does not envy; it dos not boast, it is not proud.  Love is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered.  It keeps no record of wrong.  Love does not delight in evil but it rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, it always perseveres.

Love always perseveres.  If our lives are marked with a string of broken or divided relationships then perhaps we are guilty of not loving… and/or not persevering. The apostle Paul urges continually in his epistles for us to agree with one another in the faith and to have perfect unity thru the bond of love and foundation of Christ. Jesus said that if we are at odds with a brother or sister we are to leave our sacrifice at the altar and RUSH to make things right.  We are responsible to do everything in our power to fix things, and then to go back and keep trying! 

Think of the shepherd who would not give up on his lost sheep, or the woman who would not give up looking for her gold coin.  God does not give up on others, nor should we.

God knew that witholding affection as we wait for others to change, or putting an issue on the back burner, would cause the problem to grow and fester in an ungodly way.  And we are fully responsible for *how* we deal with people during a conflict, especially if we feel compelled to deal with sin (or perceived sin) in others lives.  

Relationships are important because GOD SAYS THEY ARE (even if we feel like life is easier without the one who has done wrong).  God has been revealing to me that I had been treating certain people (whom I was supposed to love) with indifference, rudeness, and no warmth (or just ignoring them altogether).  It did not cause these people to want to change, rather it made them want to steer clear of me all the more or simply view me as immature and unreasonable.  But God has been so patient with me and over the last several months He has completely healed two relationships that I had treated with disdain and did not pursue godly peace and godly restoration. 

May our lives, and our relationships, reflect HIM.  May we truly love others – not just with words, but with our actions. With humility, grace, blessing, longsuffering and kindness.

God bless you this week, I know that many people are struggling with these same issues in their marriages, in their parenting, with neighbors, extended family or other Christians in their church.  Thru Christ, and by obeying His word, *all* things are possible.

April 16th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

I am always getting junk mail– and generally I’m quick to toss it– but when Emmiko brought in the mail a few days ago and handed me a very advertisement-y-ish envelope, I opened it anyways. I glanced briefly at the marketing brochure and scanned the accompanying letter.  It said:

“Dear Geoff and Jenefer, this Sunday, April the 15^th, you have been booked for a one night stay at our lovely resort (I glanced back at the brochure… it was indeed a *very* lovely lake resort). This comes with a lake cruise, romantic dessert and a bountiful breakfast buffet the following morning”  

On the first speed-thru read, I was looking for the fine print that would no-doubt require our life savings and first born child in the event we decided to accept this lovely offer. However, my eyes finally hit a sentence that read: “all of these arrangements have been made by your sister, Jessica Wright, who wishes you a very Happy Birthday”.  

Talk about a *big* surprise!  And then a few days after that, another suspicious envelope showed up bearing a (large) gift certificate to a very fancy-schmancy restaurant.   Geoff and I were not planning on doing any type of birthday stuff, so this was such a fun, unexpected gift.  Matter of fact, this may be the nicest birthday surprise I have ever gotten.

So thanks, Peanut Butter (you sneaky little rat)

PS if it comes to mind, say a prayer for my little sister.  She is getting married to her dream-boat in about a month and a half!

April 11th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

April 9th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

So a while back, Coie got this invitation to attend her friend’s homeschool graduation party and she and I both sort of laughed about it.  Why was this so funny? Because this friend lives in California, which (last I checked) continues to be far far away from Tennessee.  Little did I know that Coie went to bed that night shaking with excitement at the mere idea of going.  She told me later that she felt silly about being excited for nothing and finally prayed, “God, you know I really want to go, and if there is any possible way I would be so happy, but in the meantime please help me to stop thinking about it”. 

So lo and behold, basically out of the blue, yesterday her very good friend calls her up and offers to fly her out to California for two weeks. Ok, so i’m not laughing anymore.  

Of course we told our daughter that yes, she had our blessing to go, but in the inside I’m writhing.  I just *know* what’s going to happen…  she is going to meet this perfectly charming, godly, handsome wonderful ideal young man while she’s out there and end up getting married and moving 2,000 miles away.  How could she do this to me???  After all I’ve done for that girl!!  Where’s the loyalty??  Where’s the justice?? Where’s my smelling salts?

In other non-heart-breaking news, this is what could be seen this afternoon in my backyard:

and then:

 What were they doing to that poor tree?  They were pulling down the top branches to pick the flowers and berries from it so they could make these. Nope, I’m not kidding, and yes, I know that’s weird.  It wasn’t my idea.  I’ll let you know how they turn out. 

April 6th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Ok, that does it; I’m changing font size.  I think my computer is a liar, thus i can never fully tell how big or small things look on other people’s compys.  The line forms to left for anybody wishing to file a complaint.

I had an exciting time today whilst at a fellow "Southworth" fan’s house.  I love this family.  Not only did they feed us pizza, salad and unfathomably good cake, they also *forced* us to try sausage. Why did I need to be forced? …because this was not just any sort of sausage, it was deer meat sausage.  Yep, your response was probably exactly like mine.  HOWEVER, believe it or not, it actually tasted better than Hickory Farms smoked summer sausage.  Don’t ask me how they did that, i’m pretty sure it involved the use of Magical Meat Elves (which takes several more years of matriculation than the Cookie Baking sort)

So that was nice. Maria also sent me home with a packet of Butternut Squash seeds.  hardy har har.  It would take to long to explain that, if you don’t already ‘get it’.  Lastly, I found the following devotional on John MacArthur’s Website.  I love it:

 ** Edit: ok, you complainers won the day.  See? I went back to big old Granny font. 

** Also, some of you anti-Easterics may want to consider joining this Easter Bunny Mutilation club.  Seems like a good way to let off Easter – Guilt stress

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3).

In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells of two men who went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee boasted to God about his self- righteous efforts; the tax collector humbly acknowledged his sin. The Pharisee was proud and went away still in sin; the tax collector was poor in spirit and went away forgiven.

The Greek word translated "poor" in Matthew 5:3 was used in classical Greek to refer to those reduced to cowering in dark corners of the city streets begging for handouts. Because they had no personal resources, they were totally dependent on the gifts of others. That same word is used in Luke 16:20 to describe Lazarus the poor man.

The spiritual parallel pictures those who know they are spiritually helpless and utterly destitute of any human resources that will commend them to God. They rely totally on God’s grace for salvation, and they also rely on His grace for daily living. Jesus called them happy people because they are true believers and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

The word translated "theirs" in Matthew 5:3 is emphatic in the Greek text: the kingdom of heaven definitely belongs to those who are poor in spirit. They have its grace now and will fully enjoy its glory later (1 John 3:1-2). That’s cause for great joy!

Isaiah 57:15 says, "Thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’" David added, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).

Like the humble tax collector, recognize your weaknesses and rely totally on God’s resources. Then He will hear your prayers and minister to your needs. That’s where happiness begins!

April 4th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

I wrote a post about celebrating Christmas, which got a lot of very interesting response.  I have a new question for you (along the same lines).  Is Easter a Christian Holiday?  I know there are great controversies about its roots.  But what do *you* think about Easter?  Do you hate it? Do you love it? Eggs or no eggs?  New dress and hat or no new dress and hat?  Ham or tamales?

Throughout my Christian life, Easter Morning has always left me feeling guilty.  I can’t remember any specific Easter where I had *felt* the level of spiritual reverence that I figured was necessary for such a holy day.  Here’s the thing though.  I finally realized that Easter is not any sort of biblically mandated holiday.  There is no call to set a certain Sunday aside in spring to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  What you do see is the mandate to celebrate communion; to gather together with other believers on an ongoing basis to fellowship; to remember His death and resurrection (through the breaking of bread and drinking of wine), to exhort, encourage, reproof, rebuke, teach, sing spiritual songs and psalms to admonish one another as we testify the truths of our risen Saviour, and to tell others in this dying world about the Good News.  

See? Doesn’t that make you feel better?  I bet some of you have suffered from Easter Guilt, just like I did.  There is no need to feel pressured to conjur up special “Easter Emotions”.  One day, or even week, could never fully express what our lives should reflect all year long in response to His great sacrifice for us.

So does this mean you shouldn’t celebrate Easter?  Nope, I am not saying that at all.  It is still a lovely day that can be meaningful and full of fun – one that has an added focus on our Lord.  It’s neither bad, nor good.  It’s just a day to make whatever you want from it.  Matter of fact, I’m excited because one of the sweet families from our new church has invited us to their home to have Easter lunch with several other families. So Easter Day has given us a great excuse to make new friends.   

SO….. Happy Easter Week! 

In all that you do, whether in word or deed, love and magnify the Lord our God and love one another deeply. 

PS thanks for humoring me with my last post.  You guys are funny

April 2nd, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments