What a weekend!

Saturday morning we got up early to go have breakfast with some friends at Cafe Ecletic (so yummy) we had a back room allllllll to ourselves. It was nice considering we had 6 adults and SEVEN children four and under!! wow huh? They did awesome!

Then we headed downtown to the Farmers Market. Very cool place. Kids enjoyed a cold delicious smoothie and some live music :) last stop was a trolley ride. I believe we were the first timers of the bunch. We don't go downtown that often. It takes you all around downtown while the kids can sit on the bench and look out the window if they want. Micaiah and Addy did not like for me to call it a trolley (which is what it was) but a train. They had their minds set that they just rode a train :) lol!

We came home all pretty tired. Dad didn't make it very long till he ended up in the bed. It was a very peaceful and relaxing day (as Saturdays should be) I'm almost done finishing up the guest room that I have transformed into the new homeschool room that we will start using in August when Addy begins Kindergarten. Ahhhhhh! It's coming so soon. Finished up a few more things today on it. I am so thankful that we have this extra space to set apart just for school. I think that will help me A LOT to be more disciplined and organized.

Here are some pics of Saturday morning :D

To cafe eclectic we go!

At the Farmers Market loving on this sweet boy

Listening to some cool music

Friends:)

The wild ones of the bunch...addy's back there just a dancing!

The trolley ride (about 25 minutes) we took up just about the whole back half:)

And that was the end of our time together! They weren't to thrilled about getting this pic.

Saturday evening I had my first team meeting for a trip I am going on this July (actually just 25 days away) to Indonesia. So so very excited for this. I wish I could share more! Hopefully I can do another post in the future about Indonesia and how our family is becoming more and more involved in that area. It's a two week trip...which means two weeks away from my dear husband and kiddos! I will miss them so much! The meeting was excellent, and the team that is set up to go is wonderful. In the weeks ahead there is a lot to do but I am trying just to make a step and trust...make a step and trust.

Tonight we went to Levitt Shell which is at Overton Park off poplar. They were having a kids concert and we went with some friends. It was so much fun! Our kids had an absolute blast and the weather was perfecto!!

Our friends hainging out down by the stage. It looks like its only them but there were tons of little kids hovering all around.

 

WHERE'S MICAIAH??? Do you see him...

 

 

And that about sums up the end of our weekend :) off to bed now. This momma is wiped out.

 

Can't believe it's almost June!

 

wow I can't believe we are going into the month of June already!! Seriously where has the time gone?? This year is quickly moving by. I feel so incredibly blessed by the Father.

Here are just a few highlights over the past 5 months.....

We have moved down to #10 on the waiting list at the babies home in Uganda. (trusting in His purposes for the wait), turned 26 ;) moved my two brothers into our tiny guest room for a temporary stay, cut back on my coffee intake (one a day with little cream and no sugar), became first time gardeners, got a desperately needed new fence, watched two friends travel across country to add a new precious life to their family, seen Jared go through more injuries and pain than i would like in 5 months, watched the Lord provide financially for us in incredible ways, rejoiced with several friends with the news of pregnancy, started a new book "A Holy Ambition", got some much needed dental work done, working on memorizing Ephesians Ch. 1, fixed our oven after going a year without one (yes a year, and yes to fix the problem was only $144) and so much more.....

Moving forward there is a lot happening as well....

Jared Lord willing becoming an elder of our church, celebrating with my childhood best friend her marriage to her love :), taking a trip to the jungles of Indonesia (5 weeks away..OH BOY!), 6 years of marriage to my beloved, saying goodbye to a dear friend and family as they move away & forward with the plans the Lord has for them, going to dive head first into homeschooling, watch my two babies turn five and three :), finish the remodel of our guest bathroom, take a family trip to Pickwick, hopefully find a car that will seat our upcoming family of five, and be able to travel to bring our Isaiah home :)

What a gracious God we serve! A lot of the times I can get so discouraged that things aren't happening fast enough, or selfishly not how I want it to happen. As I think on these things I am so clearly reminded that..

His purposes are best even when nothing seems to make sense.

God owns everything and his arm is not to short to meet our needs.

To embrace my sanctification and not run for it.

This life is one of faith and trust in the one who is immovable, constant, and unchanging.

And finally life is so short and unpredictable so don't waste it, and live it to the glory of God.

Steph <3

 

Hello Spontaneous Date Night

I enjoy these kind of dates :) Any time with the man I adore and always want to be with is good by me. It's usually the simple unplanned evenings together that end up being so much fun and relaxing. I have thoroughly loved today and I am reminded of my valuable and joyful calling as "mom!" it feels great to be able to top the evening off like this. I have to give a shout out to my brothers even though they will never read this but they are at the house watching our crazy kiddos tonight and I greatly appreciate them being so willing to tackle such a great task :)

FYI: my two brothers are currently living with our family. And it was such a blessing today when I got home from church and they had cleaned and organized the whole kitchen and living room for my mothers day surprise, that I promise you was left in utter chaos before church! Thanks Stephen and Sean :):):)

Anyways, we are having a grand time and I thought I would do a short and sweet post while Jared finishes up with some questions for a grant application we are mailing in for the adoption!

My love

A late evening meal. A tomato, spinach, mozzarella pinnani at Starbucks. I do recommend it was yummy

Catching up on a few of our favorite shows :)

I'm not so sure about this pic and the face I'm making looks like I'm giving an evil glare. But hey Jared always says he likes the "real life in the moment" pics so here we are ;)

Thanks for tuning in! Hope you have had a wonderful Sunday!

Now I must prepare for tomorrow because Monday is going to sneak up on me way to fast.

 

Family Time!!!

Jared has had Monday and today off after a loooong weekend of work. Even though the weekend can be tough when he is gone and I hardly get to talk to him, the next few days after are always refreshing and so worth it.

This afternoon we went to a Mexican ice cream shop off summer and graham. It all homemade and they have all kind of varieties of ice cream and popsicles :) yum yum yum...it was DELICIOUS!!!! Then we went to this fun little park nearby...here are some pics of our time together :) I love my family so much and there just so cute

Love these next three pics of micaiah...

Getting his swing ready....

Almost..

And what do you think?? I don't know if that was a success or failure to him :) he's just so precious standing out there!!!

Addy facing her fear

And she did it!! After that she was doing it all by herself

Mom trying to climb the pole...that was as far as I got..I basically jumped on and couldn't pull myself up any further ;) lol

The slide was easier

Look at that big boy go!!!

And bye bye to the park. Thanks for all the fun!!!!

 

 

 

Our Weekend

It was a good refreshing time this weekend all together as a family. This was the weekend before Jared's monthly cleanup. It only comes once a month, but boy does it roll around a lot faster than what I would like :) This coming Monday through Saturday he will pretty much be out of pocket and very busy in preparation for it. So I am very thankful that we were together the past few days enjoying each other and partying it up Olinger style! :)

 

Friday night I was hoping for Jared to catch on to my promptings for us to go out for dinner at a restaurant. I tried to break him with my "invisible money" speech but he wasn't going for it. We laughed a lot and it was fun! He suggested lentil soup so I looked in the pantry and what leftover veggies we had and threw something together (no recipe) and it actually turned out quite yummy :)

Lentil soup...nothin like it

Little Mac not so much into it. He would look like this while we were makin him eat it, and then also say in his sweet voice "mommy this is the best soup you ever made I want you to make it again" lol!! He did so good and finished his bowl. Dad decided a good treat would be Sweet CeCe's and we had a buy one get one free! Love those coupons!

On our way for ice cream. It's right around the corner from our house and one of our favorite restaurants Thai Bisto. Another perk ;)

Saturday we went to a "Gotcha day" party for some friends of ours who adopted locally and were celebrating her being in their family for this first year. It's a really cool story and their daughter is absoutley beautiful and full of life and squeals! Wish I would of gotten a pic of her but missed out on it.

They had an ice cream truck come. It was fun! All the kids were ready...

Addy and her friend Hannah. So precious

There they are again and Mac's head

Ice cream...yum, yum, yum

Micaiah seconds that above statement! Thanks Patrick and Ashley for the invite we very much enjoyed it all!

Saturday we decided to stay at the home front again so we picked our fresh lettuce from the garden and made salads that night. I have to say I am loving this "gardening" experience!

Movie night! Jared scored a $5 steal on a movie at Walmart. You see those 2 faces?? That's why we have to limit their movie time. They get sucked in so easily.

Sunday about to go to church

Fun times working in the nursery this morning! Sweet kids!

Snapped a few pics after Sunday lunch....

 

Daddy said "silly faces" ready, set, Go..

This one cracks me up! We are all doing something so goofy and I look completely ridiculous.

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!!

Glory be to the one true God

 

 

 

 

S-A-N-C-T-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N

Can you think of a specific time lately in your life where you can look back and say "the Lord was sanctifying me there!!!" I'm sure for most of us this wouldnt be very hard. Just being a mother of two a dozen things swirl through my mind! Then not to mention being a wife, sister, friend etc.

I know the Lord is always sanctifying me. Phillipians 1:6 says "And I am sure of this, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Why is it though in the moments of our life where God is chiseling something off of us to replace it with something better which will give him great glory and us joy we fail to see it, or sometimes even want it.

Growing in godliness and righteousness, and being transformed from within by the power of his living word is what I want more than anything else. Yet I wander and stray. I can react and respond to situations In such a selfish and "me" centered way, and to top it off think that I deserve to! Wow! How much I need more and more of him and less of me.

This Sunday morning in particular was one of those times. We got to church with no major meltdowns or bruises, everyone dressed, hair combed, and bag packed. Yes, there was some unfinished business left at home (dirty dishes, wet sheets that I forgot to toss in the washer, toys scattered amongst the house) but when in worship to our God I try to leave those concerns far behind me. Addy sits with us during the whole service. She has been doing this since she was about two. It has been an incredible blessing for our family and to see God growing her in so many ways. The first half started off so well. Then came some squirming, and then a little bit more followed by having to go potty twice within 30 minutes. By the way I promise you this child can hold her pee all day if she wanted. And then the belly ache!

Now I completely understand that we are dealing with a four year old here, and kids will do kid things. We don't fault her for that and we extend much grace towards her in those areas. Every parent knows their child though. You catch on pretty quickly when things have become over exaggerated or dramatic. She informed us that her belly hurt so bad that she needed to go home and rest in her bed. I do believe her tummy was bothering her but not to the degree she was acting. So Jared made the decision it would be best for me to go ahead and take both children home and tend to their needs. Immediately I was struggling to have grace for addy because in my mind I knew this was an overly dramatic response to get out of something she didn't want to do at the time. So we packed up and Jared helped me get them to the car. After I told her what we would be doing when we got home which was: lunch and resting in our beds (she did not like the laying in your bed part which was orignally her idea) I kid you not before I pulled onto the interstate her belly was 100% better (her words not mine). The frustration was a little bit higher now. No turning back now though the decision had been made.

It was in the car ride home and even as I am sitting here now that I can see the Lords sanctification at work. Realizing that He is teaching me that its not all about me and what I want to do (even if that thing is good), humility, counting others of more value and importance than myself, and ministering his grace and love to those around me.

It was so sweet on the car ride home she kept telling me how God healed her belly and that she didn't need to rest anymore. Whether this was genuine, or her trying to get out of a nap we never want to undermine this young girls faith, and like I said her belly could of been really bothering her but to what extent who knows. So we rejoiced together and gave thanks to our powerful God who heard her prayers and healed her tummy. It was a special time of giving God the glory :)

As I type this both of my kids are sound asleep, and as their mother I am loving them right now. They are two of my biggest joys! I can choose to be frustrated that I didn't get to stay at church or choose to welcome, learn, and grow from this moment, and see it as a step forward on a very long road called sanctification!

Loving this precious girl and thanking our Savior for ALL his undeserved gifts!

Glory be to the one true God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our refuge and our rock

Has anyone ever felt overcome by a sin, or a continual practice of something in your life that you know isn't building you up in Christ likeness, and hindering that constant growth in godliness? It feels as if you are sinking in it, even though your desire and heart is to be done with it, you feel like you fail time after time.

If that is you, or has been you in the past you are not alone. As of the past few weeks I have found it extremely hard to get out of bed in the morning at 6:15 (I know sounds pretty pathetic) to spend those precious hours "alone" with Christ before the day begins. In a perfect world I would hop out bed within seconds, head to the bathroom, them settle in my chair coffee nearby, my bible and my journal, mind completely focused free of distractions for the next hour or so until my kids wake up ready to rock & roll!

However, recently when I wake up having gotten between 6 and 8 hours of sleep I feel as if there is a layer of bricks hovering over me and to break through them to get up seems neary impossible. I was up today at 6:30 even though by body still felt tired like I could sleep for several more hours but I got up. It was within minutes that I realized I was hitting another wall. My mind was anything but focused. I was trying to pray and was having such a struggle. What is wrong with me I thought? Lord help me!

It wasn't to long after the kids woke up and we started the day. When It was "movie time" I hopped in the shower real quick. With a little more focus I begun to pray. By Gods grace it was like the wind was gently starting to move the sails. After I got out I quickly sat down to continue what had started moments before. I journaled everything I was thinking this morning but couldn't get out in words. It became my prayer as I was writing it down.

He was raining down his mercy and love and I knew I was sitting directly under it!

Then I read Psalm 119:133 " keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no inquiry get dominion over me."

This verse lept off the pages!! Keep steady my steps Oh Lord! When I begin to drift pull me back to the well that gives life!' You will keep and preserve your children! Your promises are unwavering!

Then came the second half. And let NO inquity get dominion over me. This is how I was feeling. As if this laziness was taking control and rule over me and it was going to win. This is how I felt, but I knew when held up to the word of God this could not be so. He brings victory to his people. He strengthens and enables the to do things through the power he has granted to all who believe.

I kind of feel like my little issue is so petty compared to other things people struggle to overcome. We had a ministry called " Teen Challenge of Memphis" come to our church this past Sunday to share the word with us, personal testimonies from men still in the program, and lead us in worship. It was so wonderful!!! To see chains of addiction be broken by the power of God, and men who before encountering Christ were hopeless, and now stand born again new creations is breathtakingly beautiful. I praise him for the work He is doing ALL over the world not just where my eyes can see.

I also know that he sees my struggle and yours too, whether big or little he cares! He will bring me out of it. His eyes did not pass over Hagar in the wilderness as she layed her infant child under a bush to die he heard her cries and answered her prayers. Thank you for a God who holds the whole world in the palm of his hand, sustaining everything around us and is a refuge and a rock, a ever present help for those who are weak!

Glory be to the one true God!