Garrett sledding
Olivia sledding
Living Laughing Loving
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Avery's here
OK - so I know that it's not my baby - but it's my sister's new and first baby - and I'm so excited!! I've been dying to post pictures of her to share with all our dear friends but I wanted to ask permission first. Last night Ange gave me the ok - so here's Avery - she's soo cute!!!! I can't wait to hold her and kiss her and love her!! P.S. - I think she looks like Andrew! (Ange, what's up with our kids not looking like us?)
Monday, January 22, 2007
the lake
We've lived in MI for 7 months now - and had not been to Lake Michigan, until last saturday. We are vacationing there this summer with Josh's family and neede to check out the house we selected. Anyway, Olivia now wants to know when the summer is, and we're all excited to try out a new beach!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Snow cones anyone?
Wanted to post this cute picture of Olivia and Tirzah (our Lead Pastor's daughter), after they got done with their snow cones yesterday. Uncle J and Aunt Cheryl gave the snow cone maker to Olivia for Christmas, and it's a big hit (Even with mom- -easy to do and NO clean-up!!!!)!!!!!!! Can you tell I like it??
Monday, January 15, 2007
The New Year
The Crisp Family, livin', learnin', laugin' and lovin' in the year 2007!!
I know I'm a little late to post about new years resolutions, but life is a little busy. I'm not the type of person that makes resolutions every year, I don't even consider the new year a "fresh start". I've always just looked at it as a new year -6 months of putting the wrong year on my checks! However, this year is different. Josh and I have been saying since the miscarriage that the only good thing to come out of 2006 was Esther, the rest we'd like to forget. I know that's negative, but sometimes that how you feel. We've learned a lot about ministry, church politics(YUCK), friends, and those we thought were our friends, hurt, spiritual truths, promises fulfilled, some more hurt, true worship (especially when you don't feel like it), and the list goes on. As much as I'd like to forget 2006, I can't. And that's OK with me now. I know the lessons are God's way of getting us where He wants us. I know that no hurt will not be in vain, HE WILL USE IT FOR GOOD! I know I sound "christian" - and am using trite ideas - but they are the truth. And without these truths, God's faithfulness to bring about good, and the encouragement that comes from His word, I don't know where we'd be. I read a good quote the other day, "Hard wind and raging seas don't always mean your on the wrong path, it means you're right on target." We don't have all the answers to the questions we've asked God. We may never know why we went through such a hard time when we were transitioning churches. We may never know why our new young youth pastor and wife had and are having to go through such a terrible accident, and why their son was taken to heaven on that day.
So, I haven't made a resolution, I feel like God gave me some resolve about the next year. It's not going to be as tough. There is light at the end of this tunnel - and it's coming in the year 2007 - Thank you Lord!
I know I'm a little late to post about new years resolutions, but life is a little busy. I'm not the type of person that makes resolutions every year, I don't even consider the new year a "fresh start". I've always just looked at it as a new year -6 months of putting the wrong year on my checks! However, this year is different. Josh and I have been saying since the miscarriage that the only good thing to come out of 2006 was Esther, the rest we'd like to forget. I know that's negative, but sometimes that how you feel. We've learned a lot about ministry, church politics(YUCK), friends, and those we thought were our friends, hurt, spiritual truths, promises fulfilled, some more hurt, true worship (especially when you don't feel like it), and the list goes on. As much as I'd like to forget 2006, I can't. And that's OK with me now. I know the lessons are God's way of getting us where He wants us. I know that no hurt will not be in vain, HE WILL USE IT FOR GOOD! I know I sound "christian" - and am using trite ideas - but they are the truth. And without these truths, God's faithfulness to bring about good, and the encouragement that comes from His word, I don't know where we'd be. I read a good quote the other day, "Hard wind and raging seas don't always mean your on the wrong path, it means you're right on target." We don't have all the answers to the questions we've asked God. We may never know why we went through such a hard time when we were transitioning churches. We may never know why our new young youth pastor and wife had and are having to go through such a terrible accident, and why their son was taken to heaven on that day.
So, I haven't made a resolution, I feel like God gave me some resolve about the next year. It's not going to be as tough. There is light at the end of this tunnel - and it's coming in the year 2007 - Thank you Lord!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Safe and Sound
We are now safe and sound back in MI. We were greeted with a day of snow yesterday -I shouldn't have asked where winter went! I wanted to share some pictures from the wedding, unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures of Josh, myself, or Esther with our camera! I know we are terrible! We all matched so nicely too! So, if anyone who was at the wedding has some good pictures they would like to e-mail me you can do so at bellajoy00@gmail.com! Thanks! Esther will not be left out of this post - she is happily riding in the car on our way back to MI!
Just call me DIVA!
Did I forget to mention the shiner Garrett gave himslef two days before the wedding?? Oh well, you get the true Garrett!
Just call me DIVA!
Did I forget to mention the shiner Garrett gave himslef two days before the wedding?? Oh well, you get the true Garrett!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
What's up with the weather?
Today is wedding day - and the forecast is 70 degrees! This is not your typical spring wedding - it JANUARY! Josh and I slept on my parents sofa bed last night with the windows slightly open and the ceiling fans on! How crazy is that?? Anyone else wondering where winter went?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Lessons Learned
Happy New Year! We are currently in New Jersey for Corrie's (my sister) wedding. Josh is officiating his first wedding, I am a bridesmaid, Olivia is the "Snow girl", and Garrett is the ring bearer. Esther is the only one not actively participating, but she'll still be there in all her fussiness. Right now we are all sick, except for Josh, pray that he stays healthy. I actually had Garrett in the ER on new years eve b/c he was running a temp of 104! He was fine, and was given antibiotics to fight his cough and cold.
I continue to reflect on the last couple of weeks in our life, and today was struck with some good application for my life. Many of you may not know that over a year ago, around last October, I was going through a Bible study that made me question how to have true peace. God was quick to answer with, "Give me control." I am admittedly a control freak, finances, child rearing, Josh's time management, whatever. I am continually being reminded that I am not ultimately in control, no matter how much I convince myself I am. So, to God's answer I asked, "Of what, specifically?", trying to trick God into not asking me to give things up. His answer surprised me, "The size of your family, do not control when or for how long you reproduce." The implications of being obedient to this command are many. One, financially, "how will we afford all the children You want to give us." For those of you who don't know, I've never had a problem getting pregnant, Josh basically just looks my direction. To which He answered, "I take care of my children." Two, "Where will we put them all?" Again, "I take care of My children." Three, "Josh is never going to go for this." "Josh is my child, I will take care of him." Four, "I'm overwhelmed with my two, almost three, kids I have, how will I cope?" "You are my child, I will take care of you too." Five, "People are going to think we are irresponsible, foolish, and crazy!" "You do not live for other people, You live life to glorify ME alone! I AM! You will have peace, give me all of your reasons, your excuses, all your insecurities." So that's what I did. Not without researching this "Full Quiver" idea and much prayer with and without Josh.
Fast forward to about July of 2006. Esther is 7 months old, still breastfeeding, and I'm a wreck. I'm so worried about getting pregnant again I can't enjoy that time with my husband. For months I have stressed about not knowing if and when I could get pregnant again. God tried to remind me about His promise to me about peace, and my promise to give him control, but I continually ignored Him. Finally, I started my cycle again and was relieved that I would know when I would be able to get pregnant so that we could prevent it, and we did. We completely abstained for the "fertile week". Obviously that didn't matter, and God showed his power and control in my life, even when I thought once again that I was in control, by our announcement in Mid-September that we were expecting again.
Fast forward to today. I pondered what it was I could take from this experience and the loss we have had. What I have learned about God's promise to me over a year ago, is that He is Faithful to fulfill His promises, even when we don't. I don't believe that I ever gave Him full control of the reproduction and family size, but He was still in control. He controlled when I got pregnant and was in control when we lost the babies. And you know what, I've never felt at peace more in my whole life. He continually wants to bless His children. He is a good and kind Father. Even in our disobedience God will lovingly bring us back into His wing to cover us with peace and love. So, my lesson in all of this, I AM NOT IN CONTROL!! How many more times will I have this revelation? I do not doubt that God's plan was fulfilled in all that has happened to us, and will continue to play out in our lives as long as we are teachable and willing to accept the easy lessons (do those exist), as well as the hard.
I continue to reflect on the last couple of weeks in our life, and today was struck with some good application for my life. Many of you may not know that over a year ago, around last October, I was going through a Bible study that made me question how to have true peace. God was quick to answer with, "Give me control." I am admittedly a control freak, finances, child rearing, Josh's time management, whatever. I am continually being reminded that I am not ultimately in control, no matter how much I convince myself I am. So, to God's answer I asked, "Of what, specifically?", trying to trick God into not asking me to give things up. His answer surprised me, "The size of your family, do not control when or for how long you reproduce." The implications of being obedient to this command are many. One, financially, "how will we afford all the children You want to give us." For those of you who don't know, I've never had a problem getting pregnant, Josh basically just looks my direction. To which He answered, "I take care of my children." Two, "Where will we put them all?" Again, "I take care of My children." Three, "Josh is never going to go for this." "Josh is my child, I will take care of him." Four, "I'm overwhelmed with my two, almost three, kids I have, how will I cope?" "You are my child, I will take care of you too." Five, "People are going to think we are irresponsible, foolish, and crazy!" "You do not live for other people, You live life to glorify ME alone! I AM! You will have peace, give me all of your reasons, your excuses, all your insecurities." So that's what I did. Not without researching this "Full Quiver" idea and much prayer with and without Josh.
Fast forward to about July of 2006. Esther is 7 months old, still breastfeeding, and I'm a wreck. I'm so worried about getting pregnant again I can't enjoy that time with my husband. For months I have stressed about not knowing if and when I could get pregnant again. God tried to remind me about His promise to me about peace, and my promise to give him control, but I continually ignored Him. Finally, I started my cycle again and was relieved that I would know when I would be able to get pregnant so that we could prevent it, and we did. We completely abstained for the "fertile week". Obviously that didn't matter, and God showed his power and control in my life, even when I thought once again that I was in control, by our announcement in Mid-September that we were expecting again.
Fast forward to today. I pondered what it was I could take from this experience and the loss we have had. What I have learned about God's promise to me over a year ago, is that He is Faithful to fulfill His promises, even when we don't. I don't believe that I ever gave Him full control of the reproduction and family size, but He was still in control. He controlled when I got pregnant and was in control when we lost the babies. And you know what, I've never felt at peace more in my whole life. He continually wants to bless His children. He is a good and kind Father. Even in our disobedience God will lovingly bring us back into His wing to cover us with peace and love. So, my lesson in all of this, I AM NOT IN CONTROL!! How many more times will I have this revelation? I do not doubt that God's plan was fulfilled in all that has happened to us, and will continue to play out in our lives as long as we are teachable and willing to accept the easy lessons (do those exist), as well as the hard.
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