Favorite Way to Display

I got this idea out of a magazine. I love it because it displays the kids artwork and school projects in a way that contributes to the decor of the room. To make one you need an antique ladder (lots of them are out there)and shower curtain rings with clips on them (these are from Target). I also mount most of their art on some type of colored construction paper. (I need a fourth rung on the ladder now that Maggie has joined the ranks!).

Wise Words About Seeing

“…the climax of that prayer came with these words, ‘Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because you loved Me before the foundation of the world’ (Jn. 17:24). Why would the most loving man who ever lived, at the most loving hour of His life, pray that we would be able to spend eternity seeing His glory?  The answer is not hard: this will satisfy our hearts and glorify His worth. That is what it means to be loved by Christ.”
-John Piper from his book When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy, pg. 67

Jesus Heals The Blind

Jesus Heals The Blind

Spit on the dirt, once again
And cause me to behold
New facets of You, of the cross,
And Your glory from of old.

Lay Your hand upon my eyes
That I would truly see,
Not men as walking trees,
But lives of those in need.

Simply speak a Word
And my blind eyes will gaze
Upon the works You are doing
And evidences of Your grace.

The fog of the world,
The dark of night,
The nearsightedness of sin;
Satan’s lies
That lure the eyes
All seek to keep hidden,
Who You are, and who I am
And where You’re at work
In my fellow man.

But I take hope
That blind men came
To the One
Who knows my name
They left You
Able to see,
So now I ask,
Lay hands on me.

Favorite Muffins for Fall

This recipe is from the kitchen of Judy Phillips. If you know her, you will go to the kitchen right now and make these delicious muffins! Every recipe I have from her kitchen is a prized possession.

Pumpkin Muffins
-Combine in medium bowl:

• 1 egg


• ½ cup pumpkin


• ½ cup milk


• ¼ cup melted butter


• ½ tsp. vanilla

-In another bowl combine:

• ½ sugar


• 1 ½ cups of flour


• 2 tsp. baking powder


• ¾ tsp. cinnamon


• ¼ tsp. ginger

-Stir dry ingredients into liquid just until moistened.
-Fold in ½ cup of raisins – optional.
     -Sprinkle top with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
-Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Serves 12

Wise Words About Guilt

“When guilt feelings keep us self-absorbed, destroy our motivation, and make us discouraged, guilt has become a parking lot – not a good thing. But when guilt reminds us that we are insufficient, and when this insufficiency points us to God – His forgiveness, His empowering Spirit, and His provision of grace – then guilt becomes a spiritual car wash. You don’t camp out in a car wash; you just go there to get clean. You drive through the car wash and come out on the other end with an entirely new outlook. That’s one of the healthy roles that guilt can play for parents: pointing us and our children to God.”   - Gary L. Thomas from his book Sacred Parenting pg. 47

Goodness and Mercy Toward My Twins

My twins turned eight this weekend!  I can hardly believe that this time eight years ago I was probably on my way home from the hospital, scared and weepy.  I had been a hero of sorts in the maternity ward (at least they made me feel like one), and now I was headed into real life.  No lactation experts to help me latch them on.  No nursery to send them to for a few hours of sleep.  No laying in bed all day having things brought to me on a tray.  I remember some of the emotions so vividly.  

So, here we are eight years later, and we all survived!  I remember Alistair Begg saying in passing that on his birthday every year he recounts the ways God’s goodness and mercy have been following him all of his days.  I adopted his ritual for myself, and this year I want to do it for my twins.

I see the goodness and mercy of God in that they were born into a Christian home where they would be able to hear the message of the gospel from parents who, though greatly flawed, understand their need for a Savior.

I see the goodness and mercy of God in that they are surrounded by godly men as role models.  Their father, uncle Jimmy, and Papu are all godly pastors leading the church well.  Their Uncle Dan models gentleness, as well as diligence in the workplace. Their Uncle Chris is a servant and diligent school teacher.  Their Abuelo is a compassionate man and a meticulous electrician.  All of these men are not only believers, but live nearby and are members in the same local church.

I see the goodness of God in giving them such a good father.  In a time when most dads are aloof and indifferent, this is a huge evidence of goodness to Joshua and Caleb.  Jason is not only a strong leader, but he is a humble leader.  This is such a unique combination. His humility is demonstrated in how he serves in our home, as well as how quickly he responds to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  His orderliness and diligence are other qualities that God in His goodness has provided for my sons to observe.  This diligence translates in other aspects of Jason’s training of his sons.  For example, he regularly reads God’s Word and other books to them.  He takes them out to breakfast or lunch regularly to build relationships with them as individuals.  And perhaps most important, he plays with them.  Whether it’s football, wiffle ball, or family wrestle, Daddy is on their level to enjoy and invest in what will be a continuing evidence of the Lord’s goodness and mercy in their lives.

I see the goodness and mercy of God in giving them brothers to provide a furnace for sin to come to the surface in obvious ways.  I don’t always appreciate this as good or merciful, I have to admit, but the wisdom of God is not the wisdom of man.  In our family it is impossible to keep a veneer of godliness.  The boys love each other dearly, but they are the primary means for exposing sin in each other.  We have many opportunities to understand how much we need a Savior in the Reyes house.  This, indeed, is the mercy of God to all of us.

I see the goodness and mercy of God in giving my twins such unique personalities and gifts.  Caleb is compassionate and artistic, as well as a strong leader (the coordinator of all activities imaginative).  Joshua loves hard work, is athletic and diligent.  He seeks to be good at everything he puts his hand to.  They rub off on each other.  Caleb likes sports because of Josh’s influence.  Joshua likes art because of Caleb’s influence.  This is such a “good” thing for them.

I stand in awe that the Creator of the Universe fixes his gaze on my boys and extends goodness and mercy to them in these and so many more ways.  How it builds my faith as a mom to think upon these things God has done for my boys.  If their salvation depended on me being a faithful mom, we would be doomed indeed.  But He is faithful even when I am faithless.  I pray this year my boys would increasingly grasp not only how “goodness and mercy shall follow them all of the days of their lives” but why.  How I pray they will understand, by the Holy Spirit’s illumination, that they receive the kindness of God, because Jesus received the wrath of God on their behalf.

Psalms 23:6 (ESV) 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Favorite Thing Friday

I've decided to feature a "few of my favorite things" on Fridays. This week I am featuring my housekeeping journal. I have trie fancier ways to manage the home including a PDA and an elaborate organizer, but I always come back to my chubby little notepad. I divide it into four sections: Daily To-do List (the most pages go in this section), Running To-Do List (a list of items I want to get done eventually), Miscellaneous (contains notes for a poem, book titles I want to read, list to get done for a birthday party, window measurements, etc.), and finally a Menu/Grocery List (self explanatory).

Wise Word Wednesday

“Great thoughts go best with common duties. Whatever therefore may be your office regard it as a fragrant in an immeasurable ministry of love.”
–Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott (as quoted in Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot, pg. 84)

I love how this applies to housework. I have found that in the potentially mindless duties of folding clothes, scrubbing floors, vacuuming, etc., I can call to mind whatever I was reading in the morning in my devotions. It might not be the deepest meditations, but indeed it is possible for great thoughts to go with common duties.

Ho Hum Housework

Nothing stays done. Just after you finish unloading that final laundry basket of clean clothes, a pair of dirty socks mocks you in the hamper. The dishwasher that you unloaded needs to be loaded again. The diaper that you just changed is already foul. You clean up breakfast knowing that the lunch mess is around the corner. The dust you wiped off the piano yesterday is already showing its pale face. There is no paycheck. No time card. No summer vacation.  No promotions available for a job well done. If this describes you, you’re probably a homemaker like me. The challenge is, how do you stay motivated to do what keeps getting undone? There have been many times when the futility of housework made me feel like I was going crazy. God has been so gracious to change my perspective.  

Romans 12:1 has been key in helping me have a godly attitude toward housework. Paul writes, “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” So this morning, when I get up from the computer and go to put on a load of whites, I can do it as an act of worship, and God accepts it as such. Isn’t it wonderful that God takes the mundane and adds the potential of the extraordinary? By taking the opportunity to offer myself as a living sacrifice in my home today, I am not just making meatloaf, I am worshiping God. It is profound and mysterious.

I would love to know what God uses to help keep you motivated. Post, post, post.  

Scooter Survivors

These are the scooter survivors who went to Bermuda. From left to right: Brian and Tracie Young, Jason and I, Paul and Kate Britton (all gauze carefully hidden).

Wise Word Wednesday

This is an experiment. I don’t know if I can sustain it indefinitely, but I would like to use Wednesday as a day to quote others who are obviously wiser than I will ever be. The goal is to encourage myself and others.

This first quote goes along with my post this week. It was quoted in the “Role of a Wife” section of pre-marital materials we borrowed from Covenant Life.

Proverbs 12:4  “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband…”

“She is not the ring on her husband’s finger, or the chain of gold around his neck. That were far too low. She is his crown; his brightest ornament; drawing the eyes of all upon him, as eminently honored and blessed.” – Charles Bridges

My Scooter Story

Kate said it would be dangerous. Kate talked to at least five people who had been to Bermuda and they all said we shouldn’t do it. Kate warned us, and Kate was right. Using scooters to get around Bermuda was NOT a good idea!

Why I would think I would be okay on the back of a scooter is a question that begs to be asked. I mean, even in the car here in Maryland I am nervous. I don’t like to drive, and I’m a really bad passenger. I do the whole slam the invisible break thing, gasp when it looks we are too close to the double yellow line, etc.  It seems to me that all of us should be nervous in a car. We are driving little metal boxes at speeds up to 65 or 70 mph, and all that divides us is a painted yellow or white line. Am I really so crazy for being nervous?  Jason is so patient with me. He is an excellent driver, except when his wife screams and slams her invisible break.  

Back to the scooter story. Jason and I, along with Kate and Paul, and Brian and Tracie decide to add a little adventure to our vacation by renting scooters in Bermuda. Somehow I think I can handle riding on a scooter Jason has never driven, in a place we’ve never been, and driving on the opposite side of the road at that! I convince myself that it is not really dangerous, I’m just a freak – I have the problem.  It didn’t start so well. I was squeezing Jason’s waist so hard, he could hardly breathe. I am on the back praying really loud things like, “Oh God, help us! Jesus, help us!”  That mixed with the occasional, “we are going to DIE!!!”  I have never prayed so earnestly, or loudly, in my life. As I’m yelling like a lunatic on the back of the scooter (cars passing us really close on the right!) I try to tell Jason to just ignore me. I tell him, “you’re doing fine, it’s just me. Don’t listen to me back here.” I try to tell myself to just be quiet, pray in my mind, take deep breaths. I can’t control myself. I have to say things like, “too fast!”, “are we lost?”, “don’t lean!!!”.  The words pop out of my mouth with a frantic edge at a volume he can hear over the roar of the engine and the whir of cars zooming past us. I am sure I was eroding any modicum of confidence my poor husband had in driving the scooter.

Then it happened. All three couples were trying to make a turn across the two way traffic, and Kate and Paul crash into the side of a low stone wall. Screams of  “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!” can be heard…not by Kate or Paul who were in the accident. No they were relatively calm. Kate got up and walked a few feet away, scraped and bruised, but calm. Paul un-crunched his neck, got up with a four inch square patch of skin missing on the back of his shoulder, but still amazingly calm. Who was screaming? Me, of course.  After filling out paper work and returning Kate and Paul’s scooter, we proceed to the beach (absolutely stunning, by the way…I hope to get pictures up next week). On the beach, we begin to notice that Kate and Paul aren’t the only ones clad in gauze. Many people have various body parts wrapped. It became a little connecting point for people. “Scooter accident?” “Yeah…” and so on with the details. Then it occurred to me. I wasn’t crazy. This really was dangerous. People really were getting injured doing this whole scooter thing.  I probably don’t have to inform you that we returned our scooter that evening (but not before I ended up crying – what a ninny! – and Jason hit a parked car…unmarked police car…with police man sitting in it!!!).

Because I have to make everything didactic, I can’t resist sharing the obvious parallels between scooter Laurie and wife Laurie. This year one theme that God is causing me to return to over and over is the biblical quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. I like how Wayne Grudem defines these qualities in his commentary on 1 Peter: gentle - not insisting on one’s own rights, not pushy, not selfishly assertive, not demanding one’s own way; quiet:  “the result of quiet and continual trust in God to supply one’s needs.”   In the scooter ride called marriage, I am realizing that I am so often not gentle or quiet in my spirit. You see, I am behind a guy who is extremely godly and gifted, but nonetheless doesn’t always know what he’s doing. He’s trying to follow the map. He is trying to stay upright. He is trying to move us from point A to point B. And wherever he goes I’m going. His success and failure on the proverbial scooter affects me. So even if I’m not screaming prayers of desperation in his ear, am I eroding his confidence by my more subtle bouts with fear and anxiety (about finances, the kids, the ministries he oversees, etc.)? Am I being pushy and assertive telling him to “slow down” or “don’t lean”.  Too often the answer to these questions is yes. And given my little scooter story, that doesn’t surprise you.

I am so grateful to God for opening my eyes to see the beauty of His design in calling women to a gentle and quiet spirit. It is something I strongly desire because I see how it is precious to Him, and I am beginning to see why. When I put my trust in God to supply my needs, He is pleased and glorified. Whether or not the scooter ride ever gets comfortable, if we get lost on a strange island, even if we wipe out and get scraped up a bit, I want to rest in the confidence that God is in control. How I want to have these verses characterize me more and more this year:  1 Peter 3:4-7 (ESV) 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening………
….even scooter rides in Bermuda.

Prayer Request Update

We already have the answer to one of our prayers. The husband of the couple who brought my aunt and grandmother to Texas was able to get into my grandmother’s home. This was somewhat miraculous, because police officers initially refused to let him enter. It began pouring rain, and they just waved him in. Remarkably, my grandmother’s house shows no evidence of water. It is exactly as she left it. How good and merciful of God! We are overwhelmed at His kindness. My grandmother can’t return to live there any time soon (we hope she’ll just stay in MD) because obviously, the rest of the city isn’t functioning yet. Please continue to pray for my grandmother. We just found out her older sister died today (of old age, not hurricane-related). They lived together a good part of last year, and had a special bond as my great-aunt Anette was there when my grandfather died last spring.

Thank you again for all of your prayers, and offers of help. It is an amazing blessing to be recipients of God’s love and care through the local church. Our hearts are full!

Please Pray

Images of New Orleans flashed across the television last night. Places I have visited over and over from childhood to last March looked like they were just crumpled up and tossed into streets of water. Places like the French Quarter, where we ate beignet doughnuts and drank coffee are gone. Places like the levy where my Mom, Dad, sister, brother, and I stood watching the sunset after my grandfather’s funeral less than six months ago crumbled and faltered. We don’t know what my grandmother’s house looks like yet.  Did the Bojangles bottle opener make it? What about the yellow furniture in the guest room we used to sleep in? And the picture of Karyn at age two that even though it’s a studio shot, seems to capture not just who she was, but who she still is? And finally, what became of the three beautiful tables with intricate, inlaid wood patterns that my great-grandfather made with rudimentary tools, but expert artistry?  

Indeed, the people of New Orleans are in need of our prayers. I want to ask that you also pray for our little piece of the circumstance as well.  My parents will fly out Saturday morning to pick up my grandmother, 87 years old, and my severely retarded aunt Cathy, 54 years old, from an airport in Texas. They will board another plane and fly home immediately. My Aunt has never flown and becomes very agitated and loud when she’s in unfamiliar circumstances. This could make for a very long flight for everyone. Please pray that she is peaceful.   My grandmother, who just suffered the loss of my grandfather, hasn’t been here in ten years. She is leaving the familiarity of her own home, her friends who played cards daily there ever since I was a little girl, and other extended family. I think she plans to return when it is possible, but if you’ve seen the news lately, you know that is looking unlikely.  Please pray that her adjustment would go smoothly, and she would be able to enjoy her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. My mother and father have been spending every waking minute preparing for my grandmother and aunt’s arrival. We transformed the dining room into a bedroom for them. We had to clear out spaces in the house for the china (massive amounts – if you know my mother, you know why), and in the garage for the furniture. My mom’s life is going to change significantly. She is the rugged, pioneer-type, and in typical Mill’s fashion is rising to the challenge of caring for her elderly mother-in-law, but more difficult by far, caring for my aunt who has the capacity of a baby…but is physically much stronger! Please pray that God will continue to give her grace for what lies ahead.

These are not the circumstances under which any of us envisioned my grandmother moving here. My mom pictured having an addition built so that grandma could have her own kitchen, her own space. She pictured the big family dinner we would have in the dining room to celebrate their arrival. We thought we would have home health care lined up to meet my aunt’s needs, just as she had in New Orleans. God had a different plan, and we believe it will bring Him the most glory, and be for everyone’s own good. Selfishly, I am so happy that my children will get to know my grandmother and aunt. I am glad she will be at their birthday party this month. I am excited for her to see the house we live in due in large part to her and my grandfather’s generosity. I hope whe will be able to teach me, one more time, how to make her seafood gumbo, crawfish bisque, eggplant gravy, and pecan pie.  I know, even with the blessings, it  will not be an easy time, but please pray that everyone involved would draw near to God, receive strength in weakness, enjoy the opportunities to be together, and humbly submit to His gracious hand.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying and expressing care for our family.