Gingerbread House Decorating

We had cousin Cooper over to spend the night so Jenn and Justin could go to a Christmas party. The kids had a blast making a gingerbread house (the Costco kit is really fun and easy). Of course, their favorite part was eating the candy while we decorated. These three are quite a team...sometimes a trouble-making team, and always a fun-having team.

She doesn't know how to pose for the camera or anything.

Beautiful Fall

If you have not driven I-5 through Oregon when the fall colors are changing, then you have missed a gorgeous drive. I am always amazed at God's creation when we take this drive (up to Portland and back), but I don't recall ever driving through during this exact time of year. The trees were beautiful and the 4 1/2 hour trip felt alot shorter than it was. We Oregonians are sure blessed to live in such a lovely state.

Here are some pics from our recent trip to the pumpkin patch.

Bethany was having a blast finding just the right pumpkin.

Benjamin and Cooper catch a ride in the punkin 'barrow

Dad and Mom's 30th

So, my parent's celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary last week. We had a celebration at church on Sunday and surprised them with a slide show and served lunch for the congregation. Their marriage had sure been a great example to all of us. Their love and commitment over the years is something that all of us kids would love to exemplify in our own marriages. Here are a few fun pictures from over the years.

Pleasing People

Pleasing people is not only something that I constantly struggle with as an idol in my life (yes, idol), but it is also the title of a great new book that is helping me with that struggle. Lou Priolo has written a great book titled, Pleasing people: How not to be an “approval junkie”.
He begins by characterizing the approval junkie, and showing me that my “people pleasing” is idolatrous, especially when I am desiring the approval of man above the approval of God. One of the signs of an approval junkie would be the oversensitivity to correction, reproof or the disapproval of others.
I definitely fit the bill of a people pleaser. I was the child who really wanted to please my parents, and as I have built my own home now with my husband, I struggle with making sure I please God first as I submit to my husband. I also struggle daily with things as seemingly important as caring what people think about the behavior of my children to something as silly as who might feel felt out if I didn’t invite them to a party. Instead of praying that God would direct my actions, I tend to worry what other people think. Instead of praying for my children and having a peace knowing that we are trying to follow God’s instruction in raising and disciplining them, I am often worried about the impression they are making upon others. All these desires, Priolo points out, are idolatrous. Yikes. I have a lot of work to do.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “You can please some of the people some of the time, and all of the people none of the time, but you can please God most of the time.”
Very good book. I am almost done, but it is one that I will need to be reminded of time and time again.

New York

The highlight of our year was visiting New York with the purpose of attending my husband's cousin Blake Petersen's graduation from West Point. As part of our trip we were able to take a day in the city just the two of us to explore some. We took a sight seeing cruise around Manhattan, sailing by the Statue of Liberty, under the Brooklyn Bridge, and by the entire Manhattan skyline. We walked a ton. Were able to walk by the New York city library, Grand Central Station (where we stopped to eat pizza), and Times Square. Braving our fears, we took a ride on the subway, making our way to Rockefeller Center. Then we went to the Empire State Building and took the ride to the top where we enjoyed the amazing view of the city. I really was amazed by it all, and would go back to see more in a heartbeat. Some say that they find the city crowded, dirty, and unpleasant, but I was just enjoying it all. Talk about the ultimate in people watching! We were also able to make another trip back into the city a few days later to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway......very exciting.

Then, the stop I recommend most highly on our trip, was the visit to West Point Military Academy. We were able to watch Blake in the traditional graduation parades and ceremonies. I was really not expecting this time to affect me as it did. As I watched Blake and our Pastor's son, Dave Meador, march in the parades with hundreds of other cadets on the massive lawn in the middle of a campus with more historical depth than any other, I was touched. I saw just a glimpse of how hard it must be for the moms (and dads) of those cadets to turn them over to such a lonely place so far away. I also saw and appeciated the traditions of our military that have been around since the start of our country's defensive history. I was reminded of how grateful I need to be for the men and women protecting our country and the sacrifice they and their parents are making.

All in all, I would VERY highly recommend visiting the West Point campus if ever given the opportunity. At the very least, read a book on the history of what has happened on that beautiful campus on the Hudson river in New York, and remember to pray for those young men and women serving our country.

What Are We Looking At?

What Are We Looking At?


Why not watch sex in the movies? In thinking through reasons why we shouldn’t watch television and movies with sexual content, I have decided to explore why God desires for us to use our time in a way that is more glorifying to Him. First, let me define “sex in the movies”. I personally see this as anything with sexually explicit conversation, scantily-clad people, or actual sexual activity. If I am to avoid this, my choices at the theater are considerably narrowed. As human beings, we are designed to respond emotionally and physically to behavior of this sort, as it all leads to something God created for us. So why do I have several objections to being exposed to someone else’s (the world’s) opinion on this subject?

One good reason for me to avoid movies with sexual content is that God values my marriage and wants me to keep it sacred. I also value my marriage, and personally do not want my sexual relationship with my husband influenced by the world. One may argue that we are married and are mature adults, so why not have a “romantic” night out watching a “romantic” movie. It can’t hurt a strong Christian marriage? Right? The problem with this opinion is that once sexual material has been added to a movie, it will arguably cause us to question and compare our own relationship to the idealistic relationship happening on the screen. Personally, I will begin comparing myself to the woman’s body, and would rather those comparisons never creep into my mind. Watching members of the opposite sex engaged in activities that should be private, not only brings doubts, ideas, and insecurities into our minds, it also brings the temptation to be looking at someone lustfully other than our husband or wife. Matthew 5:28 says, “But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

If our relationships weren’t influences by those on TV and in the media, we would have less to compare to, and thus would never know the difference between our private sexual relationship and those portrayed every few seconds on television. God created sex to be between a man and woman in a covenantal marriage relationship, so why should we even allow ideas to enter that relationship that are outside of what God has given us as a couple?

In the same vein, young people who are not yet in a sacred marriage relationship are also very much influenced by what they see portrayed by Hollywood. Most young people have seen hundreds of relationships in the movies that are ungodly and have heard many conversations containing sexual dialogue that are just as bad as the actions. If in the future they are blessed to enter a marriage relationship, they will be carrying many ideas and expectations that are not of the Lord. Instead of entering a marriage ready to explore this new blessing of sex uninfluenced, their minds will be full of pictures that could cause insecurities and potentially hinder the couple in creating their own unique and special relationship. Of course, we will likely be exposed to ungodly sexual behavior in circumstances other than movies and TV, but why not take one extra step towards God’s desire for us to be holy by avoiding that avenue altogether?

Whether married or single, the Bible urges us to stay away from any sexual sin. In 1Thessalonians 4:3-4, we read that “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor – not in lustful passion as the pagans do, in their ignorance of God and his ways.”

If we continue to attend these movies as Christians whose purpose in life should be to glorify God, we are saying that we approve of these ungodly behaviors and relationships. Then, when we give that approval, there will be no reason for Hollywood not to continue adding content that is more and more disgusting. If we (and I know we are a pretty significant number) choose not to attend these movies, we are not providing even more encouragement for this to escalate.

After saying all this, I must admit that I enjoy watching a good “chick flick” as much as the next girl and am not opposed to watching movies or TV in general. Ultimately, we all need to simply stop and ask ourselves if what we are watching is glorifying and pleasing to God. If it isn’t, let’s turn it off! If it is, have a fun evening at the movies! (Better yet, read a good book as a family, go for a drive or a long walk or even have a game night.)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Cor. 10:31
“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:13-14
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8