Monday, April 27, 2009

My little piece of Heaven

Like most families, we rely on our evening routine in order to preserve sanity and order in our home. So most nights go as follows; 6:00-dinner , 7:00-family free time (we play a board game or draw, anything as long as it's as a family ), 8:00- Trae's bath time, 8:30- story time, 9:00 brush teeth, tuck in, family prayer, lights out. We have this routine pretty well established now, and is followed most of the time, except on Tuesdays when we go to our Life Group bible study, and Friday's which is a free night, and Trae and Joe's 'Man's night' (I'll explain that in another post!). Anyway, Sunday turned out to be a pretty awesome day. We went to church and then had lunch at BWW so Daddy could watch the Celtics. Evelynn had other plans though, so we ate quickly and took the tired and fussy little lady home. It was a relaxing day. After nap time, Evelynn and I sat outside on the lawn chair and watched Joe and Trae play Monkey in the Middle with his new Nerf ball and some of the neighborhood kids. Guess who was the monkey? JOE! Sometimes I think he has more fun playing than they do!





Joe putting Evelynn to sleep and watching Sports Center....She was so tired



Hee Hee....they are so comfy together! She has him so wrapped around her pinkie already








So that night when Trae was saying his prayers, he said...'thank you God for my strength, thank you for my life, and thank you for the holy spirit." After he was done Joe and I just looked at each other and smiled. We are so proud of the little man he has become!






1st Grade Valentine's Dance








This year has been full of changes and new things for our Trae. He has adjusted very well and has grown into a fine young boy. We have had some challenges with a few bullies at school this year. Trae is learning how to stand up for himself and has a very good grasp on what is right and wrong. He always tries to make good decisions. We learn a lot from him daily! This year the first grade is doing The Wizard of Oz for their school play and Trae wants to be the Lion. We really hope he gets it! It would be really good for him. So, please pray that Trae will get the part in the play that will be best for his self esteem. We hope it's the Lion, but God might have other plans.





The sermon at church was really good too. It was about the rapture and the end of days. It wasn't the average 'Rapture' sermon though. He wasn't trying to scare anyone into accepting the Lord. He simply relayed a message from the bible. That message was that now is the time to get right with God. We should do all things as if we were doing them for Jesus. We should prepare every day for his return. How can we do this? Well, my interpretation is this: Clean house. We take so much time and care to make sure our house is clean and tidy. We buy nice clothes and fix our hair so we can present ourselves to others in a certain way. Our lawns are kept and our flower beds are tended, which some do for leisure, but most do in order to please those beasts from the HOA. We make sure our children are in all the right sports or join all the right after school clubs. But what have you done for your soul lately? All of the 'things' of this world will not mean a thing on the day that the Lord returns. So what is there? When you sit alone in a quiet place, and look inside yourself, at the parts of your heart that no one can see but you, what do you see? Is there bitterness, regret, anger, vengeance, or hate. Maybe there buried deep is shame, lust, greed, or confusion. Envy, frustration, pride.... Or maybe you see peace and love and devotion. My point is this: Whatever it is that remains when all of the outside world is stripped away in those deep hidden places of yourself, are not a secret. GOD sees them. And he doesn't just glance in from time to time. He doesn't just pop by on Sunday mornings to see if you went to church or not. He sees what's in our hearts ALL of the time on a big screen in HD. 'For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.' 1John 3: 20. All of the stuff, and things that take up space in our every day lives are secondary and are displayed in the far corner 'Picture in picture'. So prepare your heart for the Lord. 1John 2: 17 says that 'The world and it's desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.' Read the scriptures and make them a part of your heart. If you already know a lot of scripture, then go and search for new ones. You can NEVER stop learning. It is also our responsibility as parents to make sure that our children are taught about God's love by example. Children see EVERYTHING we do. They are watching and soaking everything in. How do you treat strangers? How do you treat the checker at Wal-mart? Do you even acknowledge their existence besides the sigh of frustration when they have to enter a bar code manually, or need to call for assistance? This is how I have come to view my roll in this world lately. I may not be someone who has a public platform on which to stand and influence people. I do not have the means to be a missionary in Ethiopia, or the gift to lead a congregation. But what I do have is the opportunity to be a positive influence on the people I come in contact with on a daily basis. Look someone in the eyes and smile. Tell someone to have a good day and really mean it. Pray that God will place joy in your heart and consciously do all things with that joy.




Well, this blog post did not go the way I had originally intended. Hmph, that just goes to show that the Lord's schedule can be much different than our own. I hope everyone can find out what that is and then try every day to live it. Love you!


-Amber

2 comments:

  1. Fitzgeralds!! You guys are so adorable and I've said it before but Ill say it again, you both deserve the best and I'm glad that God is continuously blessing your lives and the lives of your children. Little Evelynn doesn't seem so little anymore, time surely does fly by doesn't it? I recently saw the Wizard of Oz at the Hobby Center, it was actually my first time ever watching the story from beginning to end!! Can you believe it?!! Nevertheless Trae will be in my prayers-- the lion character would suite him well :) and I sure hope Joe is rootin for good ole rockets now!!! Amber I'm glad you've started this blog!! I've been dreaming about launching a website for my passion with photography, but it'll be postponed until schools 86ed. I hope your still baking, hopefully one day I'll visit your bakery- you never know what god has in store for you!! Happy Mothers Day!
    <33

    Sophia

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