I was looking over pictures from Christmas and realized I forgot to post a bunch of pictures that were taken either before or after Christmas, and some were taken around New Years...these were moments captured in between the days most people in the world mark on their calendar as important, and worthy of attention.
I am definitely one of those people.
Christmas marks the day that the One who saved me, came.
It is one of the days marked on my calendar in BOLD letters!
I know God is pleased with our intentionality in setting His birthday aside as a special day...
But what about the rest of the days.
Yes, there are other holidays that get special mention too, but what about the other days of the year where there are no birthdays to celebrate, Holidays to gather for, specials on TV about or gifts being wrapped in honor of...
With such a full calendar, I tend to highlight the days that seem REALLY important, while the others seem to turn into a blur of events we call, life :)
I am starting to realize that most of my life is spent in those in between times...
If I believe (which I do) that everyday is a gift from the giver of life, then I must learn to count every regular, old Monday as a day that is as special, ordained and intentionally planned as the days that are highlighted and marked in BOLD letters on my calendar.
What day is it for you each week that you struggle to get thorough without wishing it was already over? Maybe it's time we get out our highlighters, and make those days on our calendar look just as important as the Holidays we look forward to celebrating each year...because to God, they are just as important...
God's faithfulness is on display every single day. Every new morning is a gift from God, and a sign of His eternal presence.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Lord, help me wake up each morning with full realization of this truth...that the day placed before me is a gift from YOU, and a chance for me to experience your eternal presence in my life...
Here are some of those precious in-between times with our family...
...Mealtime...
Morning pancakes with Grammie...
Girls lunch out :)
...Playtime...
Playing at the playground, in chilly CA weather (high 40s) :)
Playing by the Christmas tree...
...Outdoor Time...
Ryder's favorite...working outside with Papa in his garden :)
(not sure why he raised his hand, but it somehow seemed appropriate while holding the pitchfork...)
Walks up and down the street...
...to visit the horses (and collect rocks, of course)
...Sleepytime...
Naps often got skipped, and then caught up again later while dinner was being made...
...Family Time...
Nothing better than Great-Gramma with her girls...
..and Auntie T with baby Rylee
...Reading Time...
Nightly reading time with Auntie Erin :)
She got Ryder hooked on "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe"
More in-between times down south...
Babi teaches Ryder to play checkers
(while Cora shows off her belly...)
it doesn't get more in-between (or sweeter) than this...
More sweet Auntie-Rylee time :)
Cora-Bean with Auntie-Ine who gave her that name :)
One of my favorite moments of our trip...Uncle D showing Ryder all of his toys that he and I used to play with when we were little...(Star Wars, Star Trek, Food Fighters, Dick Tracy Figures...these are classics!!!) Ry had been looking forward to this moment for a long time, and no one could explain them to him like Uncle D :)
Then...Cora playing with my toys from when I was little!!! That's my baby cradle, and little plate and spoon I used to feed my two favorite dolls with...Precious moments!!!
Just starting to lift up her head here :)
...Christmas Eve...
Deda with his grandkids and great-grandaughters...
Our family watching our gift to them this year...a DVD photoslide show of our year...since they couldn't spend most of it with us, we brought the memories to them! (and made them all copies :)
tired boy...
...The day after Christmas...
My dad's whole side of our family hadn't been together for years...
Together again...
...Deda's 87th Birthday...
One last shot before heading home...
Peeking in on a sleeping girl...
Nothing like a good snooze on top of a ram :)...
Only at Babi and Deda's house!
...Hume Lake...
Time to put on chains to get up the mountain!
Following Dad...
I love this last picture of my Dad blazing the trail up the mountain...we all followed his lead up the snowy slope, trusting him to set the pace and take us a way we could follow.
He didn't stop when he saw the sign "Chains Required"
He knew we were all well equipped before we reach this point.
God will never take us anywhere he doesn't already know the way.
There is nothing to fear in following his lead.
I've found this truth to be hardest to trust when I'm in the in-between times, since often, those are the times I've prepared the least for. They just sort-of, happen...and sometimes, I find myself relying on my own strength and wisdom in the those moments more than any others.
One of my goals for this year, is to consistantly be fulling my mind with the Word of God which can be trusted at ALL times.
I want to be well-equipped with His Word which God calls the Sword of the Spirit...
It is living, active and ready to defend us in our time of need.
We can live this life fully confident that anywhere He calls us to go, we can go in His name and for His glory, because He says so.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 4:13 & 19
Life can feel slippery at times and the enemy wants to cause our minds to doubt and be confused. Just like we put chains on our cars before we climb an icy hill, God has given us His Word to give us a sure foothold in life...not so that we avoid those slippery slopes, but so that when you hear His still small voice calling you to step out in faith into the unknown, we can have confidence that he's already provided a way.
Whoever can be trusted with very little, can also be trusted with much.
Luke 16:10
I think this means that God cares first about how we trust him in the small, in-between moments when no one else is watching us...on those days without a highlighted event we have to perform in for all the world to see.
Lord, may we step forth in bold confidence, knowing that where you call us to go, you will also provide a way. Stir in our hearts today, to remain steadfast in the little, in-between moments of our days when no one is watching, so that as we are faithful then, you may also trust us with much! What a joy it is to know that you have adventure in store for those of us who believe!!!
