The Intentional Life

Happy 4th Birthday, Hannah Karen!  You are a joy and a delight.  You make us smile daily with the many gifts you collect for us: rocks, flowers, various pictures you've drawn - all wrapped up in tissue paper and put in gift bags!  You have a soft heart and often pray for the "people who don't have homes and have to live in boxes."  You've shown a heart for Jesus as you have often confessed at dinner devotions how Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  You are a great friend and younger sister to Owen and a great help and big sister to Madeline.  Your boundless energy never ceases to amaze us as you practically skip everywhere, and if you're not skipping, you're running.  Hannah, we love having you as part of our family and are so glad God gave you to us to raise up to know Him.  May your life reflect God's goodness and grace and bring glory to Him! We love you, Hannah!

Last week was a draining week. A week that wrung me out like an old rag, and left me crumpled up on the concrete, hoping for a little sunshine to come my way. A week that I felt I poured a lot into a particular individual, got nothing in return, and ended the week in need of a very long nap...or cry. It's so hard to see someone listen to, and believe lies.  And see them living with the consequences. We see a lot of hurt come through these doors.  A lot of young lives messed up by others who were supposed to be responsible for them.  Supposed to love them.  Instead they drug them through the dirt, abused them, then left them for someone else to take care of. These kids have been hearing lies their whole lives.  And well, if all you hear is lies, then I guess you are bound to believe them. So we just gotta show them the Truth.  Because, you know, the Truth will set you free.  And we often see the Truth crack through the rough exteriors, an...

Thank you, Jesus. You didn't have to do it.  You didn't have to go through all that suffering. You didn't have to take all MY sins upon yourself, bear them on the cross, causing you to be separated from God. You didn't have to experience Hell. You didn't have to go through all the shame and humiliation. You could have just lived a perfect life and been a wonderful example for us all. But then I never would make it to heaven. Because I am full of sin and lead a very imperfect life. Thank you, Jesus, for going through all that awful stuff for me.  You died and experience Hell so that I could live and celebrate in Heaven. I don't deserve it, but I am so, so THANKFUL for it. Thank you. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8

A month in the life of the Suvar's.  A few pictures from it at least... A typical view of the living room...yeesh. Drinking water from the bathroom sink... Wrestling with daddy...but pause for a photo-op Enjoyed the summer weather in March - loving the froggy boots! Building forts with chairs and sheets - and you have to have a cookie to go with it! Owen learned to ride his bike with no training wheels.  Now he wants to ride everywhere. To the store. To the library. To grandma's. $1 Easter hat at Target.  Perfect for the hat-loving 2 year old We told Hannah she could get a bike basket and helmet if she starts riding her bike.  She is motivated...kinda.

Tonight my heart feels heavy. I feel like it is a number of things that is weighing it down at the moment.  A number of things that all relate to each other but that I can't necessarily type on here - to protect those that I serve. Questions that I keep rolling around in my head are "Why?  Why do I do this work?  Why do I pour all my care and energy into a bunch of teenagers who don't always welcome it and would rather be around someone other than me?  Why do I get up each morning and throw myself into this ministry only to have sticks and stones hurled at me in any number of ways?  Why do I keep giving them the same Message over and over, hoping for change, but not always seeing it?" I guess because I have been asked to. God has asked each one of us to share His message of salvation and to care for those less fortunate. Even if they don't want it. We may not always see the results of our sewing of seeds.  But God does not ask us for RESULTS... ...

I feel like I haven't had a lot to say lately.  I've had a lot of thoughts rolling around in my head but nothing that really formulated into something that could be put into words. At least not enough words to make a post about it. But maybe as I type something will come about. I thought about how gorgeous the weather has been these last few weeks and how we have gotten a glimpse of summer a few months early.  Summer with school still going on, which means I get to enjoy the outdoors with my little kids during the school day without the added responsibility of the big kids. And by enjoying this time with my kids I have to remind myself to live in the moment.  Enjoy this moment.  So many of my moments are spent thinking about other moments - ones that have already happened or ones that are to come. And I lose the joy of moment that I am in. I think about how God wants us to enjoy our moments in the now, but with an ever present thought of eternity.  E...

Between Owen being at preschool and Maddie taking her nap, I had a couple of uninterrupted hours with Hannah this afternoon.  We spent quite a bit of the time outside enjoying the spring-like weather.  But, you know, one must break for a spot of afternoon tea.  We had a few extra guests with us but the service was excellent and the atmosphere couldn't have been better.  Seems like just yesterday I was doing this with my dolls.  So glad I have a daughter to share it with now.