Happy Birthday Alex!

Four years ago today our lives were radically moved with the birth of this little boy. What we went though to get there was unbelievable: 7 in-vitro fertilization procedures over several years, 17 weeks of 4 inch needle injections every single day because I was showing signs of losing the pregnancy, 3 months of bed rest, 2 weeks of hospitalization for pre-eclampsia, and finally in emergency delivering a baby boy who was 5 weeks premature. Today we have one happy and healthy boy who loves his family, his Star Wars and Harry Potter Legos, and Jesus. Every time we pray he asks to pray for someone, even if he can't think of anyone....but he always knows Mommy will have someone to pray for. He knows there is a need and he is here to work that. Happy Birthday Buddy.....my little A. E. Staley IV.  Mommy, Daddy, and Lukie love you very much! You are our good boy! Our humble praise to you oh Lord above!

Do as I Do

"Do as I do." - Judges 7:17.
We have a great children's Bible that the kids love for me to read to them.   It has vivid drawings of what is taking place in each story.  This morning I was reading out of this Bible to them as we sat on the floor and both kids were in my lap.  As soon as we were done with one of the stories I got up to get something across the room.  While I was up, Alex started "reading" the story out loud to Luke, just like Mommy did.  At three years old, Alex doesn't read a lot of words yet, but he used the illustrations as a guide for what was going on.  It was an adorable and touching moment that he was trying to "read" to his brother just as I did, and referenced the pictures in the book as a guide for him to share the story.  Children are master imitators.  That's why parents know you have to be careful in front of them.  Even things they are experiencing peripherally can seep in and make an impact.  It makes me ever more vigilant to live a life through and through that will move them to bring blessings to those they touch.
"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness." - Titus 2:7.

It's Still Christmas

Caryn Broomby Photo

Well, it's been one of the hardest questions I've had to answer as a mother, as 3 year old Alex asks,  "Why do we have to take down the Christmas decorations?"   He wants to know where the tree is going, and especially where his Charlie Brown manger scene is going.   It has the three "mice" men (wise men), y'know.  ;)   He wants to know why we can't celebrate Christmas all year long.  Perhaps I should ask that the rest of the world to answer this question for me.  Maybe more apropos is to ask what people are doing to keep the spirit of Christmas alive all year long.  That sense of giving to others, and opening your heart to the miracle of Jesus and the joy that God can bring...shouldn't that be something we celebrate all year?  Yes, it certainly wouldn't be Christmas without the greed of retailers pushing us to buy things no one needs.  But perhaps without the commercialism of the holiday, we can focus much more intently on the reason for the season, and how Jesus can be there for us every day.   Perhaps the best resolution for this year is to make every day feel as if the King of Kings has been born!
"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." - John 14:23.

Mary's Fear

Through the immense joy and blessing of having a baby, one thing many first time mothers experience is some level of fear.  There is a great uncertainty in knowing your life is about to change deeply and permanently by a person you will know the rest of your life.  With that, I keep thinking about Mary this time of year.  Two thousand years later we still celebrate the great joy and anticipation in the arrival of the Messiah, however I can't keep thinking of how scared young Mary must have been.  As a deeply faithful woman, she was pregnant out of wedlock, told by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to the Christ child.  Moreover, she had this special child right before a time that male children were ordered to be killed, so she had to protect him at every cost (although I believe in this, and scripture documents it, there is some conjecture surrounding the truth of King Herod's orders).  How could you keep it together in your head and your soul that this was the Lord's plan?  Only through true dedication to God, and putting your faith in His every word could it make sense.  Mary was a simple woman from a modest family.  They had little means, but great faith.  God knew what her heart could bear.  God knows this for you too.  If you have a child, He has chosen you to be their mother for a reason.   The experiences you have are meant to help this child grow into the person God needs to carry out His will.  What does that say about those who have not had children?   That there is a plan for what you are doing also.  Follow the light of that path....wherever it may lead.  We are here for God's purpose, not our own (which means listening to the judgment of other people is pointless).  Listen only to God.  What he asks you to do at some point, or at many time, require you to step out of your safe zone and trust him.  That is how faith is strengthened.
"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." - Luke 1:38.
In doing the Lord's work to carry out His will we will reap great blessings in our heart and our eternal life.  Silence yourself long enough to hear what God has in store for you...for your life...for your child's...or perhaps for someone you know that He intends you to help.   You yourself may never even know the depth of it.  But God will.  What else matters?
"'She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet"  - Matthew 1:23-25.

A "Sad" Example

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one." - Mother Teresa.
As I was coloring with Alex, he stopped and showed me this picture of black eyes and a straight line.  He pointed to it and said "I drew a sad face."  Of course any mom would raise an eyebrow or two wondering why their child would draw something like that, so I cautiously asked about it:
Me: "Why did you draw a sad face?"  Alex: "Because of the other children."  Me:  "What about the other children is sad?" Alex: "Because they are sick and poor."  Days later, he followed up this conversation by telling me that he wanted to give some of his new toys to children who don't have any.
Every night we pray with Alex and Luke that God will help those who are in need, and sometimes Alex will even ask about why they need things that we have every day.  It's a time we can stop and really focus on what Jesus taught us to do as Christians and care for one another.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:42-45.
We all can be so consumed with the demands of running our own lives that in between taking kids to school, activities, work, or running errands, the gravity of what goes on in other families can be transparent.  It's estimated that every minute 15 children around the world die of hunger...every hour 30 children die of AIDS....and 20% of the world's children do not go to school.  These are not issues that we want our children to dwell on, but it's the right step for them to dwell on the fact that they can be part of the solutions.  I know the answers will come to a child's heart as long as the Holy Spirit resides there.  Compassion will find a way to carry out God's will to bring aid to people who are living in need.  The goal here as a mother is to keep setting the example through prayer and through our own giving or volunteerism.  Then, trust that our children will see the need in the world is great for so many people...for health, for food, for clothing, for education, and even just for love and acceptance.  The picture you paint of the world around them, could literally be the picture they draw for you today.
"It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." - Ephesians 2:10.

Your Crown of Thorns

Every night when we say prayers in bed, I always ask Alex if there is anyone he'd like to pray for.  Maybe someone he met or saw during the day who was sick, or hurt, or needed help with something.  Tonight I asked him who he'd like to pray for and he said "Jesus."  I asked why he wanted to pray for Jesus and he said "because He's sad."  I asked him why Jesus is sad and Alex said "because they put a crown of thorns on Him."  It nearly brought me to tears to think of the tenderness Alex showed in the suffering of Jesus.  It was not the time to explain that Jesus' suffering was necessary for us to live eternally, and He knew He would go through it.  But we did pray for Jesus and thanked Him for what He endured out of God's love for us.  Jesus knew what was coming, and He beared every grueling moment of it because He knew the divine plan for GOOD!  Following Jesus can feel just as difficult though.  God never promises if you commit your to Him that life in this world is easy, but He does promise growth in your faith in Him through those trials in life.
"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10. 

A Clean Soul

(From juliestaley.com)
Keeping toys picked up in your house when you have small children is pretty much like spitting in the wind!  It's easiest to get things in order once they're in bed at night (and have put away what they are capable of for their age), but I always wonder if it's even worth it because once they're up again they drag it all back out again, and we're back to square one!  So what's the use of even trying to keep it picked up?  Besides having an orderly house, what I find with my boys is when things are in chaos, they seem to get easily bored and even frustrated when they are playing.  Yet strangely, if things are picked up and put in place, they seem to have a sense of looking at each toy from a different perspective...a fresh view that allows them to enjoy their things even more.  In essence, they are able to find what is important to them when they clear away what is not important.  This is how you reach God...clear away what is keeping you from sensing him in the proper light.  Don't make your heart heavy with things of this world, lighten the load for your soul and fill it with eternal gifts like joy, peace, and gratitude, hope, and faith.   Speak to God to help clear your life and your soul.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." -  Psalm 51:10.

What Do You See?

"Be joyful always." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16.
(From juliestaley.com, Denney Photography photo)
Alex looked up in the sky a few weeks ago while we were in the car and said "look at the elephants!"   My response was, "you mean those birds?  Alex said "no, Mommy, the clouds!" The sky was full of all kinds of puffy, swirling clouds, forming all kinds of shapes as far as you could see.  It was one of those days you could lie on the grass and find just about any animal in the sky. Of course since I was driving I didn't have the luxury of finding the fun in their design, and I just had to let clouds be clouds.  So when we got to our destination a few minutes later, I made sure to take a look with Alex and Luke at the beautiful sky and appreciate the beauty and wonder God made that day.  This is how it works when you choose happiness.  You stop what you are doing and appreciate what God has surrounded you with.  My children have taught me to do this more.  Sometimes my children really surprise me in how their happiness transcends whatever they are doing.  Even on a rainy day children can find beauty.  Last week Alex saw a bright red cardinal frolicking in a puddle after it rained.  Many adults might not have seen that because they would just imagine the day was too gloomy to find anything interesting outside.  But in his wonder of the world on a very gray day, Alex saw life and color.  May we all find that in our lives every day.

"All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast." - Proverbs 15:15.

Happy Birthday Luke!

If you don't think lightning can strike the same place twice, then you haven't met Lucas Mueller Staley. After years of infertility, complications, miscarriage, and heartache, Luke came against the odds. His brother came to us through IVF. I was told I could never get pregnant on my own.....but here is God's proof that anything is possible through Him. Happy First Birthday Luke!
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' ” - Matthew 19:26.
(Photo by Amy Denney of Denney Photography)

In Giving, We Receive

(From juliestaley.com)
The more I watched in disbelief the images that came in from the deadly tornado that struck Joplin, MO, the more pressed I felt by the Spirit to go....to do....something on behalf of myself and our foundation.  I felt conflicted because I knew we needed to help, but I also have two small children to take care of and business to tend to.  Yet it is in taking care of others that we also take care of our own.  Not only are we growing our soul by doing this, but we grow the importance in our children of caring for other people. 

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:4.

No one can ever give back what has been taken from the people of Joplin, but you can bring peace to them by working in the name of the Lord.  I was surprised at how so many victims full of gratitude and hope...and God.  While helping clean up debris, I heard the story of a woman named Julie (pictured with us above), who was inside her home clinging to her teenage daughter and praying to God to spare them.  She said when she rebuked Satan her mouth was filled with dirt and debris, as if the devil himself was trying to silence her calls to God.  Even though she lost her home, she said the chair she read her Bible in every day was never moved, and her Bible was still tucked inside the cushion after the storm.  She lost everything and was still so filled with the Spirit!   She was extremely grateful to all of us for helping her literally pick up the pieces of her home.  I also talked to a couple salvaging items from their home when I was delivering food to victims.  They blessed the volunteers and thanked us profusely for the food.  They said they had nowhere to go except a shelter.   They lost their jobs and their home.  All they had was what we could offer them at that moment....a little bit of food, and God's love....and they were grateful.   

Returning home, I bring back the images....pictures....to show my children today and in the coming years of how fragile our lives really are.  In one instant everything can be blown away.  I also bring back an impression deep in my soul of the gratitude people gave me in the midst of tragedy.....the ultimate test of faith.

"And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." - Matthew 25:40.

What's So Funny?

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. - Yiddish Proverb.
We all know the health benefits of laughter.....it's said to relax the whole body, release endorphins, boost the immune system, and protect the heart by improving circulation in blood vessels.  So why don't we work at making it a staple in our life every day?  Some experts say said that on average children laugh hundreds of times a day, and adults only about 15.  While most parents wouldn't argue with that, the intrigue becomes "why" they laugh so much.  What is it that they feel in life that we adults do not (other than lack of sleep, and responsibility for keeping another human alive and healthy for two decades)?  There is so much we can learn from children because they know how to be happy and just stay happy.  Spend time playing with a child and it is impossible not to find smiles and laughter in whatever you do.  Alex even knows which TV shows I laugh at the most, and if I have a moment when my attention is diverted and I'm not laughing at something, he will even say "laugh, Mommy, laugh at this."   (Of course he says it much cuter because he can't say "L" so it comes out "waff").   Children rely then, on people around them to laugh too, and want everyone to experience that joy.  I also see this when I am laughing with Luke and Alex is nearby.  He will come running over and just sit there and pretend to laugh just so he can be a part of our giggling session.  Within a second it turns into genuine roaring laughter.  He CHOOSES to laugh.  Imagine what life would be like as an adult if you could laugh at anything, anytime, anywhere, and just choose to be happy?   Choose happiness?   God gives you that choice through His love.  Choose a life filled with Him, and you are choosing a life filled with joy!
“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” - John 15:11.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". - Matthew 19:1-3.

Jesus Lives Here

(From juliestaley.com)

I wrote in the October 23, 2010 posting, "Proof of God", how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were revealed to me through my three pregnancies.  But now, this first Easter with Baby Luke and I am feeling the pain of Christ's suffering more vividly.  I'm also grateful for His resurrection on a whole different level.  Christ has always been a part of my life, even as a small child, but as I posted before, doubt swept in and nearly consumed me whole during my infertility.  I was a spiritual mess.  After God and the Holy Spirit showed me tangible evidence of their work in my life through seven in-vitro procedures (IVF) and my first two pregnancies, I still kept asking for more proof about Jesus Christ.  And any Christian knows if you keep asking in His name.....the answer will come.  This one came in a big way.   I was sitting in my bedroom, praying for answers while I was recovering (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) from my miscarriage, and decided to play my "Bible roulette".   I closed my eyes and opened my Bible to a page and my finger landed here: 

"Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel." - Matthew 1:23.

Considering I had not given birth to a child I conceived naturally, I took this quite literally!   I knew then I would get pregnant again soon.....and without IVF.  Three months later I did.   It was another difficult pregnancy with complications, constant monitoring, hospitalization, and an emergency C-section.  But   almost a year from that day when Jesus spoke to me, I gave birth to a healthy son!  Our Baby Luke is our living proof that Jesus Christ doesn't just live in heaven, He lives in ALL of us!

"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God." - Luke 12:8.

Keep the Faith

(From juliestaley.com)
Any mom knows how difficult it is to soothe a fussy child while you are driving.  When I only had Alex I would try talking or singing to him so he could at least hear my voice even though I couldn't turn around.   Mostly what I'd say was "we're almost there, we're almost there", and just reassure him the car ride was nearly over.  If I wasn't driving, I'd reach behind me and pat him so he could feel my touch.  Of course it really never made him completely silent, so I never thought it made much of a difference!   Then recently, I was driving with Alex and Luke in the car.  We were getting close to home and Luke was tired and started crying.   As I opened my mouth to give my attempt at verbal soothing, Alex leaned as far as he could in his car seat toward Luke and began saying to him "we're almost there Baby Luke, we're almost there."  Then he patted him on the leg.   What a validation that I've really been making a difference all along!   My soothing for Alex didn't have an immediate effect, but it resonated inside of him deeply enough to share it with his brother who needed help.  Our walk as a Christian works the same way.  We don't always know if we're making a difference as we try to set an example for others.  In fact it may even seem like things are getting worse.   But that is usually when God is working His hardest to bring out the best in every situation.   Keep your faith!   Hold strong in the word of the Lord and His grace will be yours!

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. - 1 Peter 1:7.

Find YOU in GOD

It was gym night at our church's school.  Kids got a chance to run off some energy with the games set up for them in the gymnasium.  It was quite freeing for all of us to be in an area where we didn't have to worry about bouncing balls into a table lamp, or toys that might ricochet off a ceiling fan.  Alex loved being able to express his "kid-ness" by running, jumping, throwing, rolling, and even falling while having fun (Luke had fun just watching).  He just got to "be."   The peace at being who you are fully also comes with living a life following Christ.  Imagine not having to make excuses for who you are, or crouch behind things to gain approval.  God loves you the way you are now!   He doesn't want to see you be consumed by a sinful nature, but you don't have to do anything to win His love.  You can ask Him to come into your heart now, and show you His peace.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13.

Managing the Toy Box

(From juliestaley.com)

What's in your child's toy box? It can actually be quite a black hole for toys, as they get tossed in, and the mass of toys doesn't let it out! That's especially true for the smaller ones that get sifted through the mess and end up on the bottom, pretty much forgotten. What mom has time to clean out the toy box on a regular basis? But there is one time I see those toys get out.....when Alex is alone. When he has to utilize a few minutes alone while I make a phone call, or answer an email, make him something to eat, or do something for Baby Luke. I'll look over and he has taken out things he forgot he had, or even considers they are "new"...only because they were lost in the giant pool of toys. Then he has a new sense of wonder and amazement as he enjoys these toys as if it were the first time.....all because he had the time to himself to find something new. This is exactly how God works. He brings us to circumstances where all we have is ourselves, and we have to dig way deep inside to find things about that we may never have known, or may have forgotten. Try beating God to it, and planning time alone with yourself. Use it to pray and meditate on His will. Show God you are ready to be in the world to follow the plan He has for you to bring you the blessings He has in store.

"Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you" - James 4:8.

Christmas Peace All Year

(From juliestaley.com)

As we were driving home from church on the early evening of Christmas Eve, I felt a great serenity I hadn't felt in a very long time...a certain calm...a peace that reached deep. I thought perhaps it was part of the overflowing gratitude I have for sharing the celebration of Christ's birth with my children, but I looked around as we drove past the mall and the stores around it to see that they were all closed for Christmas. The parking lots were eerily empty. The usually jammed roads were barely traveled. The glow from the parade of lighted store signs was dim. You see, if you are as old as I am, you remember growing up when malls and most stores were not open on Sundays, and you remember what it felt like to spend Sundays doing one thing: honoring God. The fourth commandment has quietly been pushed aside for a lifestyle that gets you through your "to do" list each day. Today we (me included) are all too busy to keep Sunday open to do nothing but just go to church and maybe go out for lunch. We go to church Saturday night or Sunday morning and then on Sunday we have to cram in all of our weekly errands and chores and trips that we can't take during the week. As an avid shopper, it's thrilling to have the entire two days of the weekend to fill shopping bags and accumulate things I don't need, but it doesn't fill my heart with the Spirit. That peace I felt Christmas Eve was not just a nostalgic feeling from my childhood that I want my children to experience....it is a GIFT FROM GOD that we enjoy a day to settle down with Him and reflect on what's on our mind and in our soul.

"Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." - Exodus 20:8.

The Season's Reason

(From Mommy Moments at juliestaley.com. Photo by Caryn Broomby)

Sure we'll always have Santa Claus at Christmas, but I'm having a hard time steering through the commercialism of Christmas as I try to teach my children the true meaning of the holiday. Luke is too little to understand yet, but Alex knows that it's Jesus' birthday. He knows that we give gifts to celebrate because the wise men came bearing gifts for the divine baby. He knows that we put up special lights and a tree to honor Him. But Alex is not clear on how Santa Claus fits into all of this. The sobering part about that is....he's right. I've waited so long for this time to come...to share the excitement and the magic of Santa Claus at Christmastime with my children. But just as start talking to them about Santa, and sharing the folklore of the holiday, I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. It just feels so unnecessary to lie and tell him a secular figure is going to fulfill his wishes, when in fact the only one who can do that is God. Alex knows exactly why we're celebrating Christmas....to remember a baby born in a manger. So why do we need to share the focus with a jolly ol' man in a red suit? How does that deepen my children's spirituality? Will it deepen their relationship with Christ? Will it help them learn compassion for other people and dedicate their time and resources to helping others? The role of Santa does generate kindheartedness and giving toward others, but it doesn't bring salvation....and if salvation isn't important then why celebrate Christ's birth in the first place? I don't yet know how to share a secular myth with my children that takes attention away from the life of Jesus. What I do know is that as a child I believed wholeheartedly in Jesus Christ and felt his presence with me even before I could read. I also believed with all my heart in Santa...but I knew his magic was only possible through God. So it is in everyday life too...no person can meet all of your needs. No one has the power to bring you the desires of your heart except Jesus. With that, it can be Christmastime all the time!

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” - Luke 2: 13-14.

A Lesson to Care About

(From juliestaley.com)

"The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

Any pet owner will emphatically tell you that having an animal as your best friend is much like parenting. They'll also tell you that putting that pet down is the hardest thing you'll ever do. A part of you always goes with them. We just went through that with one of our beloved dogs, Chessie. She was 13, and lived a long, spoiled life. The picture is of her with Alex when he was about 9 months old. Chessie was with me during some of my hardest times, and was my baby long before I finally had my boys. At the end she needed help with everything, even walking, going outside, eating and drinking water. Alex was able to watch me care for her, asking many questions. For instance, when I gave her a bath he wanted to rub soap on her and he would even say "she likes it", when she'd tilt her head back to get under her neck. When it was clear she wasn't feeling good, he'd ask if she needed a bath. He now understands something it can take a lifetime to learn: caring. No matter what Chessie did for my life, by being here, my child now knows the importance of caring for others...and not by seeing...by doing.

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

- Philippians 2:4

Go out and DO something for someone (or some pet)...it will fill your soul with love...the only thing we can take with us to heaven. RIP Chessie. We miss you!

"I also said to myself, 'As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.'” - Ecclesiastes 3:18-20

Proof of God

When I was going through the turmoil of IVF, I felt so distant from God. My entire adult life, so many surgeries, and I was told I could not get pregnant without infertility treatments. I began to think God could not possibly be real. I felt comfort in moving away from Him, and justifying that the He might not exist. At first when I did this I was relieved because I didn't have to believe any more "lies"....that I would be comforted and God would be there for me and "blah, blah, blah" (is what I thought). Strangely the only thing I could not pull away from was prayer. Even if I imagined I wasn't talking to God....I was talking to "someone". So I kept praying and asked people to pray for me. Finally one night, which was like so many during that time, I was crying myself to sleep, arguing with "whomever" was listening to my prayer, and I realized that my struggle with infertility was not because of my physical problems. It was because of my spiritual problem. My lack of faith in God was keeping a pregnancy from happening. With this epiphany, I prayed for forgiveness and praised God for enlightening me. I knew at that moment I would get pregnant. Four months later through IVF, I did. God proved to me that He was always there, and I was the one who moved away (read about our IVF struggle in the August 20, 2008 blog entry). But the lesson in restoring my faith, was not over. Even though I was hospitalized with a difficult pregnancy and eventually had to deliver a premature baby, we longed to have another child. Again a miracle as I got pregnant naturally....praise God! I didn't even have to ask, it just happened. But I ended up miscarrying. I carried until week 13 when I began to hemorrhage and had to have an emergency surgery (see the blog entry on March 16, 2009). There are no words to describe the pain of pregnancy loss. However during that time instead of feeling resentment toward God, felt a sense of gratitude for all of the other good things He has brought me. I knew the feeling too....it was familiar.....it was the Holy Spirit.

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." - John 14:16-17.

How much more my faith was strengthened! Through this unimaginable loss, I restored my faith in God through the Holy Spirit! But doubt still crept in as I wondered if I would ever get pregnant again. Was I even supposed to get pregnant again? Did God want that for us? I was set to do another round of IVF when infertility specialists found something unidentified through an MRI and more testing had to be done to see if I had been scarred from the miscarriage. My faith plummeted. I felt like I was back at square one with the same problem I started with. As I was praying about it, I decided to play a bit of my "Bible roulette". I thought if God is real He will tell me right now what is going to happen. I closed my eyes and randomly let my Bible open up to scripture I can meditate on. Here is the verse my finger landed on:

"Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel." - Matthew 1:23.

There it was....a message about the miracle of the Christ child's birth, which told me that Jesus is real. I knew then I would get pregnant again on my own. It was the same "knowing" I had when I knew I would get pregnant the first time. About 3 months later, what I knew that day, became real, and I was pregnant for the second time without IVF. It was another difficult and scary pregnancy, but today I do have another son! So God really has been with me through the darkest hours. He was forcing me to question everything so I could learn for myself that He is there.....just as He is for YOU.....the Trinity.....the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pros and Cons

Every parent should see the 1979 movie Kramer vs. Kramer. Not because it won five academy awards, but because it is a poignant portrayal of the intangibility of parenting. It tells the story of Ted and Joanna Kramer who divorce when they have a young son. Joanna leaves the son with the father to raise while she goes to "find herself". Two years later, she returns, wanting the child back. Ted has put everything he has into being the best parent he can for his child, even sacrificing accounts at work to care for his son. When it's time to go to court, Ted is making a list of pros and cons about fighting for his son. On the cons side, he lists things like how much money legal fees are, and how little free time he has, and how his career has suffered, and so on. The pro side of the list....is empty. He could not write down one tangible reason to fight for this child. But....he still went ahead with it, and went to court. Why? Evidently, what is on the pro side might not be something that can be articulated, but it is something that resonates deep within the soul of a parent. The importance of making a difference in their life, and steering them to be their best. The bliss of the simple things like a hug, a kiss, or an "I love you." What do you think God would put on His list if he made one about you? Perhaps on the con side it would say that you complain too much, or ask for things that are selfish, or surround yourself with materialism. But what would He put on the pro side? Can He say that you honor Him? What about keeping commandments, or even just live full of gratitude for what you do have? Could he ever say you spread that gratitude to others? Do you simply live a life spreading love? It's all He asks. In the New Testament Jesus gave us one commandment "love one another as I have loved you" - John 13:34. Are you following Jesus' request?

The Present of His Presence

(From juliestaley.com. Photo by Courtney Matevey of Green Apple Photo)

It's amazing what newborn babies can sense right out of the womb. How many times have you rocked a baby to sleep in your arms and then as soon as you put them down they start to cry? Have you ever had a baby stop crying just because you came into the room? Or have the started to cry when you left the room? Somehow they sense that someone like Mommy or Daddy is there. "How" they know can't easily be explained. It just "is". And even if you aren't in their presence, you are most likely doing something out of their sight like preparing a bottle, or getting diapers or a blanket to care for them. It works the same way with God. You can't explain how you know He's there...it just "is". Then of course there are the times when you think you feel His absence. Yet God is never lacking in His care for you! When you feel He is not close, rest assured He is working out of your sight to bring you something you need! He is always caring for you! This is the foundation of faith...knowing that "God is with you in all that you do." - Genesis 21:22.

Welcome Baby Luke!

(From juliestaley.com)

We give God all the glory for bringing us the miracle of Luke.....Lucas Mueller Staley. We were told by doctors it could not happen without fertility treatments. Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." - Luke 18:27

Where is God?

(From juliestaley.com)
A mere sunset, the contagious giggles of children, the unexpected kindness of a stranger. It's easy to see God at work when we experience the things in life full of beauty, joy, and love. After going through years of infertility, I now feel every day like my heart could burst with gratitude toward God for bringing Alex to us. God is SO GOOD! But what about the times when you can't see God? Where is your gratitude then? Extreme pain (emotional or physical), needless and perpetual suffering, even abuse or torture of people or animals. Where is He? Where does God go? During the very dark days of my infertility struggle, it was sometimes impossible to believe God was there. I felt so distant from Him. Betrayed. Abandoned. Simply forgotten. But I know now that He WAS there! God was working ahead of me, in a place I could not see, to bring the blessing of Alex to us at just the right moment for His plan. And because I learned that lesson, I knew God was there when I had a miscarriage last year, and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit with me during that time of intense emotional and physical pain. I know that God is working in the pregnancy I have now, despite the complications we're facing. I know God has is in His hands to work something out for His greater good. Could I have believed that if I didn't go through the doubt during my infertility? Certainly not. There are millions of different stories of despair around the world. With starvation, disease, abuse, poverty, war, or even natural disasters, it's easy to say God isn't watching over us like he should. But ask Elie Wiesel, who was sent to a concentration camp as a child during the Holocaust, and was separated from his family, except his father, whom he eventually watched die. Today he says God is in everything. Imagine that! Wiesel writes in his book "Night", about how he still found God during those days...during the days of watching women, children, and innocent friends or family go through horror and death. God was there! Or perhaps you say God couldn't be there when He allows dozens of people to be murdered by a crazed gunman on a college campus? Then just ask Jim Pace who wrote "Should We Fire God?". With all the evidence there is to give God the spiritual pink slip, his conclusion to that is "don't." If you are struggling with cancer, infidelity, financial turmoil, death of a loved one, Brian Jones, author of "Second Guessing God", will tell you that God is always there, "working upstream" to bring blessings and joy to you. One of the biggest tragedies in the world is the incidence of AIDS, with 33 million people infected. Two million of these cases are children. Or an even bigger issue....15 million children a year die of hunger. Where is God in all of that? How can God be in these horrific circumstances if He is all loving? Look hard. God is in the giving and sacrificing that people do to help those in need. God is in the mission trips, the medical staff, and the souls of people working and praying to do what they can to bring healing to others. The trials by fire are what brings us spiritual purity. Calm seas don't make skilled sailors. We navigate through the terrain of life because of the stumbling blocks we learn to walk over. God's allowance of trials brings us unwavering faith as long as you can hang in there! Certainly it doesn't mean we will ever understand the maladies of this existence, but we can accept that God is in everything, and is using what we experience to bring us closer to Him. THAT is God's ultimate plan for our lives.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He that didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not also give us, with him, all things freely? Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, but, more than that, is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? It is written, 'For your sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' But in all these things we more than overcome through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to be, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:31-39.

The Sincerest Form of Flattery

(From juliestaley.com)

Children are natural imitators. So it's not surprising in the video here to see Alex trying to imitate his Daddy in playing golf, and can't even wait to get out of his pajamas to do so (Mark and I met on a golf course, so it's been a great hobby for us to enjoy together and on our own). Alex wants to be like Dada so much that he cries when he has to come inside and put away the golf clubs. Then he'll try to golf in the house, which of course has its limitations! The important note is that he never stops. He is eager to learn and be influenced by his father. Why don't we have that kind of passion with God?

"You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" - Colossians 3:9-10.

Do we cry when we can't continue practicing to live in the image of God the Father? What is it that stops us from making a permanent connection and commitment to living Christ-like and in His image? If that's hard to answer, make a list of what it would take to begin living like that. Chances are your list will compile a plethora of worldly needs....fulfillments of the ego....a playground for Satan. It will entail needs for the future, and compensation for something in the past. Live in the present moment! That is where God's presence exists! God cannot change the past, and your free will, given you by God, determines the future. Commit to imitating Jesus in every way, and there is no doubt your life will grow greatly in blessings and glory!

"We are all to be transformed by the renewing of our minds — conformed not to this world, but to the pattern of Jesus Christ" - Romans 12:2.

Who Paid for You?

(From juliestaley.com)

Alex is already urging me to explain why I tell him "no". Since he's just starting to have dialogue, this is the beginning of a long period of inquiries to hit Mommy. It's one of the more enlightening duties in parenthood: to answer alot of questions from your child; many that may seem a unnecessary, difficult, or even strange. Looking back, I remember one of the oddest things I ever asked my mother when I was a kid. I was obsessed with medical shows and watched them intently (my favorite was "Emergency 51"). One show had an issue about a couple who couldn't pay the hospital after they had a baby and there was some issue about discharging the mother and baby. I believed from watching this (at only 5 or 6 years old) that you had to actually pay money for a baby....like there was a price tag on it....not knowing there was something called health insurance. So I asked my mother how much I cost. She was a little confused at the question and I explained I wanted to know how much they had to pay for me at the hospital like the people on TV did. Of course she laughed and told me as simply as she could that it wasn't the baby they were paying for, it was the medical services. What a great world we live in, I thought, that every baby is free! Yet, that is not accurate at all. Every person born has already been paid for by God. The price of your everlasting life is shown in the blood of Christ. Jesus paid for your life with His. God made the ultimate sacrifice, giving His son to die so you never have to! I look forward to teaching my son, and eventually his brother, that their lives, like everyone else's, are already paid for. By acknowledging and accepting that, they will never have to die!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" - Romans 6:23.

A Christian New Year

(From juliestaley.com, Caryn Broomby photo)

As we've reached Maundy Thursday I begin to honor Passion week as my very own "New Year in Christ." Since Christ died for my sins and yours, I like to reflect on the past year and how I've grown, or not grown, with God, and what steps I need to take to stay on the course. Now, as a mother, I have the added task of teaching my child, and eventually his brother, that they need to do the same. It is sometimes difficult to find that truth deep inside that we have not measured up to Christ's example. However without reflection on our mistakes, we cannot learn, and then become stagnant in a relationship that is ever-changing on His part! So, my heart is always heavy this time of year because of this spiritual assessment. I anguish in the thought that Christ spent His final hours at the Last Supper with his disciples by washing their feet, serving and loving in humility. Have I served and loved all in humility? Certainly not. On Good Friday I mourn the cruel death of a man who brought unconditional love to everyone he met, including lepers and even prostitutes. Have I brought unconditional love to everyone I've met? Certainly not. Then on Easter morning, a miracle happens every year. Not only is Christ brought to life again, to unconditionally love and serve every human in God's creation, but through His painful death, His love has wiped my sins clean! I have a chance to make amends and strengthen my walk as a Christian. I pray that each year, as I learn and grow, that I will move closer to being the person God intended, and showed through His son's example on Earth.

"After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” - Luke 22:17-19.

What Door Do You Close?

(From juliestaley.com)

Every parent knows the sign that their child is about to do something they shouldn't. Sometimes they simply go in another room, or get really quiet, or crawl under a table to hide. With Alex, I can tell he's up to something when he shuts the door to a room. It's even more evident when I try to open the door and he's holding it shut! If I open the door and come into the room before he has carried out his plan he always has the most guilt-ridden look on his face, like I already caught him in the act. Sometimes, he'll even try to push me out the door, so he can get on with his plan. As cute as it is to hear stories like this, I bet it's also something you, yourself, do with God. Think about it. For the most part you can just label it "denial." How many times have you planned to do something, yet you knew, way deep inside that it was something that would not honor your relationship with God? It's even harder if you feel pressured to do something because of your surroundings. Life gets tricky when you're around people who don't put the Lord first, and you feel you have to fight fire with fire, so you might get drug down to another level...one where you know you've shut the door so God can't see what you're doing. The truth is, it just makes things worse because you now have to answer to God about why you didn't act with a higher moral standard, along with suffering the guilt of it all. It's always easier to be out in the open and always do the right thing. Taking the high road gives you an incredible view of the beauty of life!

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." - 1 John 1:7-10.

Dishing It Out

(From juliestaley.com)

Emptying the dishwasher is one of my most loathsome tasks to do around the house. It's made even less desirable lately because whenever I open it up, Alex is right there taking dishes out. It's worrisome when there are breakables and knives to get a hold of. It eventually became quite frustrating because I had to schedule all my dishwasher transactions around Alex's naptime. I always had dirty dishes sitting in the sink! Finally the other day I decided to surrender. I loaded the dishwasher so all Alex could reach were plastics. That way, as I unloaded the rest, he would be kept busy, and I didn't have to fret. Imagine how shocked I was to find that as I put away all of the breakables, Alex pulled out all of his dishes and actually put them either in or near the cabinet they belonged! I was humbled because all he wanted to do was help Mommy. He wasn't trying to get in the way, he wanted to make it easier for me to get something done. Now, this one thing I have disliked so much has turned into a fun activity that builds a bond with my child, and gets done in half the time! So imagine, what if we were to surrender struggles in our life like this to God? He is always trying to help us through tough situations, but many times we don't just step aside and let Him do His work. What He is capable of is beyond our imagination, so allowing Him to work for us, brings answers to prayer that we never though possible! Whatever it is that you struggle with, bring it to God and let Him turn it around.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30.

Got Plans?

As I was lying on my bed watching TV, Alex came in and starting piling toys next to me. There were quite a few, including a couple of books. It was a little unfomfortable lying there with them all around me, and I could see all of them crashing to the ground as the pile got higher and higher! Mommy of course would be the one to pick them all up. So as I started putting them on the floor, Alex would pick each one up and put them back on the bed. It became quite a cycle for a couple of minutes with me putting them down and Alex putting them up. A little frustrated, I said to Alex "what are you doing buddy?" He then gestured to me that he wanted up on the bed. So I put him up there with me where he began to move all of his toys around and play with them. He had a plan! All he wanted was to get his toys on the bed so he could play while sitting right next to Mommy! It was really very cute of him. As simple as that incident is, God works in the same manner. He has a plan for all of us, yet many times we try to move away what He has put in our lives in order to move closer to us. Sometimes things He puts in our lives are inconvenient and don't make any sense to us at the time. However once His plan has relvealed itself, it is clear that is was cleverly thought out. Watch for those signs in your life that God is putting something there to guide you where He needs you to do His work!

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Praying For Cheese

(From juliestaley.com)

In this video, you can hear Alex trying to pray. It's not very distinguishable; all he gets out is "Dear God." A good start for not even being 2 years old, I'd say. It may seem insignificant now, but the power of what he is doing will be immeasurable, with the effects for him, and possibly others down the road being eternal. The power of prayer is proven over and over again in stories we hear nearly every day. God answers every prayer! It may not be in your time frame, or in the manner you wished, but the answer always comes. Still, many people pray constantly about something that they never see an answer to. What can you do to get God's attention? It's simple. Just learn how to have a dialogue with God. Speak to Him in prayer, then listen to Him in meditation. And remember that your prayer has to be coming from your soul....not your ego. If something you want is in your soul, that means it was put there by God, and He will surely bring it to you.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalms 37:4.

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." - John 14:13-14

However if you are asking for something that is coming from your ego, out of pride or fear, then no amount of prayer will bring it to fruition. In fact, God could even bring you a lesson in humility just to cancel out your ego. Another point to remember is that God brings things to you in His time, not ours. I prayed my whole life to be a mother. When it wasn't happening, I just simply prayed that God remove the desire from my heart to be a mother. When he didn't, after many years, I knew a child has to be on its way. At age 40....it finally was. At 41 a miscarriage. At 42 now another healthy pregnancy. Why did it take so long for God to answer a prayer that He knew would be fulfilled? It was to teach me lessons in how to appreciate being a mother, and give me the skills I needed to be a better mother than I could have years before. The waiting is difficult, but know that in that waiting, God is setting you up for something awesome!! Also remember in prayer to always be grateful. Praise God with every bit of gratitude you can for all He has provided you, even if it is as simple as a piece of cheese. Along with that, don't forget to include prayer for people you know are in need. Praying for others, immediately releases what we need to bring blessings to ourselves.

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." — Proverbs 25:21-22

Listen Up

(juliestaley.com)

If you weren't a good listener before becoming a mom, you sure learn once you have a child. When you have an infant, all you do is listen to how they cry....for hunger, for sleep, for changing, for attention. Then your listening skills change as your child grows. Like many moms do with their children, I've learned how to distinguish many things with Alex. Sometimes I can tell if he's opening a cabinet to his toys or opening the cabinet right next to it with dishes in it. I can also tell from a distance if Alex is rustling around the pages of one of his books, or one of my magazines. I can even tell sometimes which toy he is using to bang on another toy. It may not be what I want to hear, but it is what I need to hear to make me a better mother! Many moms do it quickly and easily. It doesn't take much to hear what your child is doing, it just takes some tweaking of how hear. And what could be more important than hearing exactly what your child is up to? How about hearing what God wants for you? What is more important than listening to his command? So many people find it difficult to hear God because they don't develop the skills to listen to Him. Like listening to your children, it's not difficult to hear God's conversations with you; you just have to adjust. Certainly though, you won't be able to hear God if your mind is noisy. That is why prayer and meditation work wonders. With prayer, you can speak to God. With meditation, you hear God speaking to you. I can't hear Alex if our house is noisy, so I keep noise to a minimum....television, radio, it's all turned down or off. Turn off the unecessary noises in your mind and really listen to God! Then, heed whatever direction he puts you in. You cannot be blessed if you are not on His path! It may not be what you want to hear, but it will make you a better person!

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22

The Miracle of the Season

No time than any other do the miracles of God seem so real than they do at this time of year. God must be working overtime on miracles, as we've had our third happen now. Our first, was with the birth of Alex...conceived after seven in-vitro procedures, and a complicated first and third trimester. He was delivered five weeks premature (see the August 20, 2008 blog entry). Our second miracle was when I got pregnant earlier this year, with no IVF (see the March 16, 2009 blog entry). It was an impossibility turned upside down! Doctors said I'd never be able to get pregnant on my own. However, it was no surprise to us when it became clear that the pregnancy was not viable and I would miscarry. Stunned, we just remained grateful for all God gave us in Alex. We even set up another IVF treatment for January. But God had other plans! In October I found out that I am pregnant again! We crept through the first several weeks with me on bed rest, as complications arose. Now, after numerous tests, we're in the second trimester with a strong, healthy baby and mama! It's all happening so fast now....two natural pregnancies in one year! So why then was it so hard to get to this point? I have been praying for the miracle of motherhood for years, and all of a sudden God pours out this abundance. I believe God holds back from us to keep us grateful. How could we ever thank Him for what we have if we don't know there's a chance we couldn't have it, or He could take it back from us? How better can He show His greatness than by giving us exactly what we ask for in His name? Is there something you're asking for in God's name? He surely is answering you! It could be "no". It could be "not yet". Or it could someday even be "yes". I assure you if it is a desire put in your heart by God for His glory, it will make its way to you someday. Keep praying! Miracles do happen no matter what time of the year!

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." - Matthew 17:20.

There's No Place Like Home This Thanksgiving

(from juliestaley.com) I remember watching The Wizard of Oz for the very first time as a young child, and how spectacular the story was that a girl could instantly be pulled from her home and end up in a foreign fantasy land. I was also scared for Dorothy because I felt like she would never get back home with that old Wicked Witch chasing her around. So I was nearly holding my breath when she got ready to fly away in the balloon with the Wizard to go back to Kansas. But it didn't happen. Then with just a wave of the wand and a click of Dorothy's ruby red heels Glinda sent her home in an instant. What? All that time, all that drama, and it only took that one motion to get back to Kansas? I was pretty disappointed that I watched the whole movie only to see how easy it was, and that Dorothy, with Glinda's help had the power inside of her the whole time to go back home. So why did Glinda make her go through being chased by the Wicked Witch when she could have gone home so soon? A ha....it sounds familiar doesn't it? Sounds like something you might ask God. Why would He make us go through trials, loss, and frustration, when at any time our problems can be dissolved away with just the wave of his hand? He is actually trying to teach us something while he works on a solution to make things better than we could imagine on our own. I see that in raising Alex too. Sometimes he needs to learn that certain things don't work one way. Even though I have the power to help make whatever it is better, there are time that I wait to let him figure it out for himself. It is a true confidence builder. What a great lesson he learns! So this Thanksgiving, don't just be thankful for the things you have....give thanks for the troubles that stir, and know that as long as you are praying about it, that God is working his magic to make things better for you. All you need to do is believe!!

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

-James 1:2-4

Buggin'

I let Alex outside to play recently on one of our unusually warm afternoons, and instead of heading to his playset, he ended up trying to examine all of the ladybugs! They were all over the house and the patio so it was hard to miss them. He would pick them up and examine these tiny creatures very thoroughly as their wings fluttered around and they just flew away. He was so proud of discovering them that he held one up for me to take this picture of (although it's hard to see on the left side of his hand)! I wasn't thrilled about the idea of my baby boy playing with "bugs", but how else will he learn about the world God has created around him unless he is allowed to explore even those (safe) things I like to stay away from? How else will he understand that there are many things that are so unlike him? How will he learn to celebrate that uniqueness? Many people are tired of seeing all of these ladybugs because they have descended on our area like a plague of locusts. But just like YOU, God has a purpose for them and them only. Ladybugs are a gardener's friend because they eat so many other insects...so seeing them here means they are thinning out other swarms of insects. So appreciate their presence! God intends for us to enjoy what he has created...in all of its diversity. Honoring those things, honors you! For it is in celebrating the specialness of other things, that we are actually celebrating the specialness of ourselves.

"How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number‑‑living things both large and small." - Psalm 104:24-25.

Imitating Life

(from juliestaley.com)

If you watch this video, you can see that Alex has gained several skills at home to help Mommy each day. From cleaning the floor, to letting out the dogs, or even putting things in the dryer (not sure why he chose dog food!), not one of them are things that we ever taught Alex (especially the dog food!), or even thought he understood when we did them with him around. Each of these tasks he just started doing completely on his own! How does this happen? Imitation. Children are masters at it. This speaks volumes as a parent to see how much of what you do rubs off on your child...things you take for granted or even things you don't think anyone notices. But children do. How important is it then that your actions every day must honor God? If children are imtating you...then who should you be imitating?

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2

Hunger for Life

(juliestaley.blogspot.com)

Children naturally love to laugh and smile....even at the simplest task. Many parents can relate with stories of their children playing games and giggling at times they should be paying attention to something, like when they're at the dinner table, or even church! I feel like no matter what the setting, the smiles and laughter that Alex shows me every day are addictive. But the Norman Rockwell life we lead in America, is pretty much an anomaly. Consider that there are about 6.7 billion people on the planet. The United States is part of a group of approximately 65 high-income nations with a combined population of about 1 billion people....less that a sixth of the world's population. That means our culture of affluence is not experienced on most of the planet! Look up just about anywhere and you'll find that roughly one billion people are considered "hungry". Every day 16,000 children die of hunger....that is one child every five seconds (by the time you finish reading this, about a dozen children will have died from starvation). It angers me to know this, to see it on TV or the internet. How can God bring such joy to some children, and such pain and suffering to others? Mainly, so He can demonstrate His love through the compassion of people who help those in need. By reaching out, you not only bring relief to a child, you bring Jesus into their soul. So, teaching your child the importance of helping hungry children, is a gift that will bring your child a deep inner peace, and to those they help, a deep love of God. Helen Keller said "although the world is full of suffering it is also full of the overcoming of it... Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain." So it is, that I pray every day my child will bring Jesus to the hearts of others. Randy Alcorn writes in his book "If God is Good", that a world without suffering would create spiritual apathy. How true! But this is actually an oxymoron because spirituality begs compassion. It is our inborn spirit that creates that longing to help others...at any age. I remember as a child, about 8 or 9 years old, my mother sponsored a child from the CARE organization. I was surprised to know it was so easy to reach out to a child in need. We got a photo of the little boy and got updates from him through the mail. It showed me that helping others was just a postage stamp away. Today it's even faster. Through the internet, you can help a child instantly.....and possibly save a life.

"In humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-4.