Our Story, Part 8

 
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Waiting on The Lord is challenging for anyone at any stage in their walk with Him.  How much can our faith stretch before we make it round that final bend?  Will it snap before we get there?  Or will we just make it, muscles burning, legs collapsing underneath us?

It is a little bit like running a race, except for two things.  In a race, you've usually had time to intentionally prepare.  And, you know when you're in the final stretch.  There is a measurable distance that you know you will cover.  You've watched the mile markers as you've cruised along, and even if you're dog tired, you still know that you only have a limited distance left before you're finished.  Believe it or not, I've actually run a half-marathon.  I was tired.  I wanted to stop in mile 11, but because I knew just how much longer I had to go and because I also knew that I had run that distance before in training, I was able to keep my head in the game and not give up.

Our One Bedroom Apartment When We First Moved In - 2 Kiddos.

Laundry Room, Family "Closet", and Kids' Favorite Play Area (aka Living Room) - 3 Kiddos.

To me, waiting is actually more like childbirth.  You do your best to prepare, but you can't really simulate labor, so you just do what you can and hope that you're able to manage when the time comes.  And, like waiting on The Lord, with labor you can't predict the end.  Yes, there are signs that you're nearing the finish line.  There are moments when you can see the progress of your child's birth and you know the end is soon.  But it's not measured out.  You haven't run this exact race before.  It's easy to lose your head for a minute, and even if you've done it a few times (like I have) you still find yourself saying or tempted to say, "I can't do it".

Our Apartment Building - Before Kiddos, 1 Kiddo, and 2 Kiddos.

 I've waited on God a number of times in my life.  One waiting experience was when Claude and I were getting to know each other.  I was waiting for him to get the hint (which he had way before I ever did!) that we should get married.  I'd like to say I waited well in that circumstance, but I didn't.  I tried to push things along, I got impatient and frustrated with The Lord and with Claude.  I probably drove my friends nuts by hashing through all the details and frustrations a million times.

But I learned a lot in that process about waiting and more than that, I learned about trusting God.

The Dining "Room", October 2012 - 4 Kiddos.

Before our fourth child, Jeremiah, was born, Claude and I had been waiting on The Lord for a change in our living situation.  We were at a breaking point, close to the "I can't do it any more" stage but we were trying to hold out, knowing that God is faithful and that He hears us when we call out to Him.  But how and when would He answer?

We didn't have the kind of income that allowed us to just pack up and move into whatever home seemed appealing to us.  In fact, with three (soon to be four) kids and one salary, things were generally pretty tight.  We always had what we needed, but an increase in rent by nearly $1,000 a month was really out of the question.  It had to be the Lord's provision.

As I said before, we had prayed and searched for housing for several months before Jeremiah was born.  And we weren't getting anywhere.  By summer 2012, our half-joking predictions that we could make our one bedroom apartment work with as many as four children were coming true.  Our living room was our master bedroom, laundry room, family closet, office, music room, play room, and living room.  It worked.  Barely.

The Kids' Room - 3 Kiddos.

And on top of the tight quarters, life in the Northeast provided abundant stress (as if four children 5 years and younger wasn't stretching us enough!).  One night I was 20 minutes late for Jeremiah's nursing session because I had to drive for 20 minutes around our neighborhood trying to find a parking spot.  In the mean time, Claude was at home with a crying toddler and a screaming infant.  The neighbors called the police on us that night.  It was a tipping point for us.

We had, up until that point, assumed that we should stay in the New York area.  Much of this decision was based on our involvement in our church.  We didn't feel like we could just pick up and leave while we carried so much ministry responsibility.  In this, we had been putting our ministry outside the home above our family's needs.  Moving out of the area was not on our radar.  But when the police come knocking on your door all because your two-year-old won't go to sleep without milk and your newborn is hungry and waiting for Mom to park the car so he can eat, you start to think outside the box.

Walking Home from the Car - 2 Kiddos.

In addition to our ongoing housing search, we started praying more and seeking the Lord about moving away from New York.  Feeling at peace about moving forward, Claude began applying for positions around the country, always looking for areas that would offer affordable housing for our growing family.  He had many applications without any response and then one day a call came from an academic institution in Houston, Texas.  One thing led to another, and after a Skype interview and a few weeks of waiting for a response, Claude had a job offer.

Kitchen - 3 Kiddos.

The pay cut was substantial, but the cost of housing in Houston was considerably less than in New York.  After much prayer and a certainty of peace from The Lord, we accepted the offer and began packing.  We had three weeks to find a place to live, pack up all of our belongings, and drive 1,700 miles to a place neither of us had ever been.

We had turned the corner, made it round the bend.  The Lord had heard our prayers and lifted up our cause.  Our waiting had ended and we were ready for a new adventure!

To be continued...

Friday Funnies: Mind Reading

Claude is constantly saying that he wishes I could read his mind.  But no matter how long we're married and how well we know each other, I'm pretty sure that I will never be able to do so.  Our kids, on the other hand, are always proving to be a bit more advanced that we are.  And in the case of reading minds, they seem to have abilities that we do not.

Joshua: Hey, Daddy, I'm reading your mind!

Hannah: Well, I'm reading my mind.

Mom: Really, what are you thinking about?

Hannah: Ummm...I don't know.

Abby (who thought I was asking her): Squirrel!

And no, Abby has never seen the movie "Up".  She thought of that all on her own.  :)

What amazing skills and abilities do your kiddos possess?

Jacob's Sons Toddler Bible Lesson

Welcome to Bible Basics!  I'm glad you stopped by.  If you're wondering what we're up to in this ongoing series, check out this introductory post.  For a growing list of toddler Bible lessons you can take a look at the Bible Basics page.

Last week we started learning about Jacob.  Jacob is a key character in understanding the Bible because it is through his family line that God calls the nation of Israel, the kings, the prophets, and eventually Jesus Himself.  I wanted to be sure that Abby had the opportunity to learn about Jacob’s family so that when she hears the many references to the twelve tribes of Israel she has some understanding and context to begin understanding who these guys were.

We will continue with Jacob next week when we learn how God changed his name and from there we will jump into the story of Joseph, which leads us to Moses as God sets His people free from slavery in Egypt (these are some of my favorite lessons to teach)!  Somewhere in the Moses lessons we’ll take a break and I’ll share with you a series of Christmas lessons (my other favorite lessons to teach!) that will bring the story of Jesus’ birth to life for your toddler.

Anyway…I’m getting a little carried away.  Before I launch into an outline of the Old Testament and profess every story to be my favorite one to teach, here’s this week’s lesson!

JACOB’S SONS
Genesis 29; 30:1-22; 31:16-26

Memory Verse: Choose whichever version you feel is appropriate for your child’s age and abilities.

 “Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” –Genesis 28:14

“Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth…” –Genesis 28:14a

“All peoples will be blessed through you and your offspring.” –Genesis 28:14b

Lesson Focus

Jacob had twelve sons.

 

Project
Jacob’s Family Thumbprint Painting

Materials

- Construction paper, white or another light color will work best

- Washable paint or ink pad

- Marker

 

Directions

1. Dip your child’s thumb into the paint or ink pad.  Press it firmly onto the construction paper and lift.  Do this 12 times.  Allow the thumbprints to dry.

2. Once the prints are dry, take a marker and add a face, arms, and legs to each thumbprint.  Have your child to as much of this as they are able to on their own.
3. Write the memory verse or lesson focus on the top of the paper.  If you like, write the names of Jacob’s sons above each thumbprint.

How We Go Through the Lesson

1. Recite or sing memory verse.
2. Read Bible story.  We use the Beginner's Bible, but you can choose a children's story Bible or "grown-up" translation that suits you and your family.
3. Recite or sing memory verse.
4. Craft or project.  Depending on the day of the week this may be a project like the one above or it could be a coloring page or something completely different.

*Repeat the lesson almost every day.  This could mean doing it on weekdays or taking one day to work on the project, saying the memory verse together throughout the day, and reading the Bible story before bed each night.  It doesn't matter when or how, but the repetition is key for toddlers to retain the lessons presented to them.

 Here are some other ideas for this lesson:
This thorough post is definitely geared toward older children, but some of the free printables, lesson ideas, and background information could be adapted for a toddler/preschooler.  Or it could just help you learn a bit more about Jacob's twelve sons.
 

What ideas do you have for teaching your child about Jacob’s sons?

Attack of the Pizzookie!

Attack of the Pizzookie!

So on the weekend I had the strangest hankering for a giant chocolate chip cookie, a pizza cookie if you will or the infamous "pizzookie"!  So we found a recipe and baked it up and shared it's gooey, chocolate chip goodness around the 6 of us! 

Basically the recipe is the same as the Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe except you, which you can find here:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/ultimate-chocolate-chip-cookies/77c14e03-d8b0-4844-846d-f19304f61c57

In Becca's and our family's opinion it is THE BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe that we've come across although every now and then due to user error it doesn't work.  Generally though it yields yummy (gooey or crunchy depending on how you like to bake them) chocolate chip cookies and we all love them!

So with the pizzookie, you make up the cookie dough and then instead of dividing up into individual cookies, put it on a baking sheet or a pizza stone, spread it out a little, bake at 375 degrees Farenheit for 12-15 mins (depending on how good your oven is and what altitude you're baking at, we're pretty much at sea level, very much at sea level, very FLATLY much at sea level here around Houston...)  and then take it out and leave it to cool.  It'll still be a bit jiggly but it'll set and cook a little while it's cooling and then when it's cool slice it up and serve up the goodness!

We had tried a deep dish recipe but it was too cake-like and didn't satisfy the need for a giant chocolate chip cookie so this works best in my humble opinion!

Enjoy!

God Bless,

Claude for the Chews :)

Our Story, Part 7

 

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Life after Abby was born was very full...and very stressful.  I had a hard time adjusting to taking care of a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old, and a newborn.  The winter that year was very cold and snowy.  With giant piles of snow blocking the shoveled sidewalks from the plowed roads, I couldn't go anywhere on my own.  It was a looooong winter and I was glad for spring!

But spring didn't bring all of the relief that I was hoping it would.

Being able to easily take the kids out for a walk was a step in the right direction, but the change of season didn't change the day to day stresses of having a small crew of littles in a small apartment.  And it certainly didn't change the stress and burn out that Claude and I were both facing as we continued to minister in varying capacities at our church.

We both enjoyed ministry and wanted to be serving in our church family as much as possible.  The problem was that our ministry focus really needed to be at home with our children but we were trying to keep it focused outward - toward the church.  It was a recipe for frustration, if nothing else!

The Lord used it, however, to get our focus where it needed to be - in our home.  From before we had Hannah, I was working on a toddler Bible curriculum for our church's nursery.  I loved working on it and I especially loved teaching the lessons to the children at church, but I was getting tired and the demands at home were increasing rapidly.

One day I came to a realization that I was investing more of my time and attention to this curriculum than I was to my own children.  How could I be ministering to other people's kids on Sundays and yet be giving my own young children the leftovers of my resources?  It's hard to believe, but that's exactly what I was doing.  I'd like to say that I made changes right then and there...but I didn't.

By the time we were expecting the Little Four, Claude and I were both in complete burn out mode in ministry.  We were done.  We had nothing left to give.  We were also feeling the need for housing that would better accommodate our family.  Laundry in the basement, no parking, and other factors made little tasks feel impossible.

We were also stressed because neighbors would sometimes knock on our door to "see if everything is okay" when the kids would cry.  And when you have two toddlers and an infant there are times when all three of them are crying.  It just happens and it doesn't mean that anything is wrong.  But it drove home the fact that we needed to be some place where we could deal with the every day challenges of our little family without being in plain view and hearing of strangers.

We desperately needed more space.

So, we started praying.  For months we prayed and sought the Lord about what to do.  We started an extensive housing search, trying to find something affordable within a reasonable commute of Claude's workplace.  And we kept coming up empty-handed.

When the Little Four was born in July, 2012, we were overjoyed!

But we were probably at our lowest point in terms of feeling frustrated with being in the crowded and expensive Northeast.  We were doing our best to trust God to move us into a better living situation, but things didn't look very promising.  And in addition, we were still feeling torn between serving our family and serving the church (two things that, at the time, could not co-exist well), we were crying out to the Lord for wisdom and a clear leading.

When we named Jeremiah we liked the meaning, but it wasn't until a couple weeks after his birth that it hit me.  His name means "Yahweh has uplifted" and his middle name (Samuel) means "God has heard".  Not only was he cute and cuddly, but Jeremiah was an encouragement to us in an uncertain time.  We may have still been waiting for God's answer, but we knew that He had heard our prayers and was uplifting us - giving us grace through each day and making a way for a new stage in our journey with Him!

To be continued...

Happy Birthday, Abigail!

Well, we're in the middle of our annual Big Birthday Line Up.  I'm still a bit sad that no one else in the family has a birthday around mine...it gets a little lonely in the winter/spring.  However, I can only feel sad for so long, especially when this little girl is around!

Today we're celebrating three years since this spunky kiddo joined the crew.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Abigail!

A little bit of info on the Abster...

She likes Roman soldiers, playing ball, and cake.

When building with her Duplo blocks Abby most often creates guns and other weapons of destruction.

She is currently potty-training (doing great!) and was recently found on the throne, a doll on her lap, singing "Eat a cheesy taco!" at the top of her lungs.

When she grows up, Abigail says that she would like to be a princess so she can spin around.

She can eat more than her big brother when she's hungry and has been known to enjoy some pretty spicy kimchi.

For her birthday dinner, Abigail has requested cake, sausage, and barbecue sauce (in that order).

Abby is expressive, affectionate, energetic, and incredibly goofy.

 We are so happy to have Abs as part of the Chew Crew.  We would never be the same (or laugh as often) without her uninhibited and sometimes crazy antics.

WE LOVE YOU, ABBY JOY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

Bible Basics: Jacob and Esau Toddler Bible Lesson

 Welcome to Bible Basics!  I'm glad you stopped by.  If you're wondering what we're up to in this ongoing series, check out this introductory post.  For a growing list of toddler Bible lessons you can take a look at the Bible Basics page.

Last week we were in a How To series with some ideas about why and how to teach the Bible to toddlers.  As a result, we didn't have a Bible lesson posted.  But this week we're moving ahead in our Old Testament lessons.  Abby and I had fun with this and I hope you and your kiddos will enjoy it too!

JACOB AND ESAU
Genesis 25:19-34; 27-28:9

Memory Verse
"...the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger..."  -Genesis 25:23b
 
Lesson Focus
Jacob received Isaac's blessing.

Project
Jacob Paper Doll

Materials
- Construction paper - I used brown and green
- Manila folder
- Craft felt - I used brown
- Scissors
- Glue

 
Directions
1. From the manila folder, draw and cut out the outline of a person.
2. Draw and cut out a simple tunic and belt from the construction paper.  You can do this easily by placing the paper doll on the paper and tracing a garment that would fit the torso well.
3. Draw and cut out some hair from the construction paper.
4. Glue the tunic, belt, and hair onto the paper doll.
5. Draw a face on the paper doll.
6. Glue two small pieces of felt to the arms of the paper doll.
7. Use the doll to retell the story of Jacob and Esau.

How We Go Through the Lesson
1. Recite or sing memory verse.
2. Read Bible story.  We use the Beginner's Bible, but you can choose a children's story Bible or "grown-up" translation that suits you and your family.
3. Recite or sing memory verse.
4. Craft or project.  Depending on the day of the week this may be a project like the one above or it could be a coloring page or something completely different.
*Repeat the lesson almost every day.  This could mean doing it on weekdays or taking one day to work on the project, saying the memory verse together throughout the day, and reading the Bible story before bed each night.  It doesn't matter when or how, but the repetition is key for toddlers to retain the lessons presented to them.
  
Here are some other ideas for this lesson:
Surprisingly enough (considering its source) this article has some creative and insightful lesson activities for the story of Jacob and Esau.


What Bible lessons have you been teaching your toddler this week?