Sing Me a Song

Thank you for those who were praying for Dave and I on Sunday. All went well and Dave and I were both voted as the new leadership for our children's church. So much work has been done in the last week to prepare for us to begin in spring.

Ethan has been sick this week and has kept me on my toes. There were a few times today and yesterday that I was calling, questioning, begging, "No! Don't do that!" All of the words that really shouldn't go into a sentence were there. I know he doesn't feel good but does he really have to pour out all the milk from his mouth onto the floor? With several episodes today I thought that I was going to fall over from exhaustion. Then Dave came home. They ran a few laps around the kitchen (Ethan's new "game") and after that Ethan's asthma started. Ethan snuggled with Dave in the chair while watching Thomas the Tank Engine (the only way a child can sit still for twenty five minutes for a treatment!). I was washing dishes in the kitchen and could hear Dave singing the songs in the movie. For those who know my husband well, know that he can not sing. Even when he is on the worship team he doesn't sing - he just plays guitar. But, there he was, singing for Ethan. It made me fall in love with him all over again...

Another large project has finished this week. My upstairs has been cleaned out and organized. For some of you that might not seem like much of an accomplishment. But, in this household it is! When we moved Ethan downstairs, into the room across the hall from ours, our upstairs was a little neglected. So was the closet storing a lot of school supplies. The art room became a storage room and I started to do my OBS work in the hallway! It was really bad! I have it all cleaned and I will have to take pictures for all to see tomorrow. It feels good to get organized! {Edited: My photos were too dark. I am going to have to let the pro take a look and help me get good photos for you all to see!}

The goal for all this organization was so that I could begin teaching Ethan from some of my old lesson plans. I realized several months ago that I have six years of lesson plans just collecting dust! I have been trying new things with Ethan but it seems silly when all the work has already been done for me! Now that everything is organized it is so much easier to find supplies now! So, starting in February, I am going to get a little more structured with my dare-devil! This way, I can channel some of that destructive behavior into good. I will post some of my favorite projects along the way... maybe you will be inspired to do some with your little one!

Bring Me to My Knees, Lord I Lay Me Down

This last week has been pretty busy in the Evans household. Remember my word for the year? Well, the Lord has really laid quite a bit down for me these last few weeks. I have really been surrendering the unknown to Him and saying that He is in control. I think the real thing as been trying to be "Super Woman" by being a Mom, housewife, good wife to my husband, artist, business owner, and also serving at church. I realized that I will never be good or even close to being "super" at any of those things without Christ.

Sunday, our worship leader sang a new song called Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United. Pastor read John Chapter 1 and it really hit me! Sometimes we need to just give everything back to Christ once again. In my daily reading I have been reading about Josiah. He was only eight when he became king and 16 when he reached to the Lord and surrendered his life and purified his kingdom of the sin from his ancestors. It wasn't until he decided to restore the Temple that the priests found the Law brought down from Moses. They brought it to Josiah and they read it to him. When he heard what was read, he fell on his knees, tore his clothes and cried out to God, asking Him to forgive his sins. God saw Josiah's heart, forgave and blessed him.

Sunday night Dave mentioned over dinner that our pastor told him that our children's ministries leaders had asked to be stepped down from their roll as leadership and teach instead. Dave and I have always had our hearts in the children's ministries at our church. We taught Young Disciples (our children's church) for over two years and watched the ministry grow. The rewards were so great and many to mention! When Ethan was born we knew we couldn't teach or run the program and stepped aside to let others be blessed by the ministry. It was at that time we were able to join the Worship Team and continue to serve. My desire has always been to uplift, train, equip, and serve teachers! This would be the opportunity to do just that. Dave and I were asked to be the leaders for the ministry and on Sundays we would be able to continue to serve the Worship Team.

Since then we have been in constant prayer about this new adventure. While I have been in prayer through the day, Christ has filled my heart and mind with many answers to my fears about leadership. He has really answered me like he did for King Josiah and the other kings that followed God's instruction. Pretty much this week there has been a list in my ear and heart of what to do. I did it. Sent everything to our pastor and tomorrow we are presenting everything to the church's annual church meeting. Just a little taste of what God has done through me this week is the two new websites created for CV KiDz (new name for our new beginning) here and here. They are still a work in progress but wanted to share anyway. I will let you know when all the tabs are done and everything is completed.

Love Well, Love Often

Dave and I have never liked the original name I chose for our blog. We have only had the blog for over a year now but I remember telling Becca when she helped me get started, "I can't think of anything right now so let's just put in Evans Events." So, when I told Dave what I had in mind for our new title he was all for it!

Kati had a link on her blog to the 1 Corinthians 7:5 Challenge so of course I had to check it out. I am not going to go into too much detail of the challenge; you can read that for yourself. But, it has occurred to me that God has placed on my heart to be "afresh" in all things. This included my love and devotion to my husband and son.

I hope that God has been tugging on your heart these last couple of weeks on how he wants you to change according to the word he has you claiming this year, cause I sure have had a load of conviction this week. ;)

7-8-Who Do We Appreciate?

The night before last, Ethan woke us up in the night a few times. By 6am Dave was in the shower and Ethan woke up again. I went into his room and asked him if he wanted to sleep with Mama. He laid down and was happy that Dad shared his pillow with him. He fell right asleep. An hour later, he woke up, rolled over, and while looking at the clock announced, "7-0-6! It is 7 o'clock! Hello day!" I couldn't believe it! I only told him one time last week, in desperation, "That it is only day time," while pointing at the analog clock, "when the first number turns to 7. That is when you can get up." So... no more days sleeping in until 9am. Oh, wait, we haven't had those for over two years!

Simple Joy

When we were at Becca and Josh's house for Christmas #2, they recorded this video. I have watched it over and over again... I thought I would share it with you too.

Have You Picked A Word?

So, Ali has got me again. New Year's resolutions have never really worked for me... I mean it might get me motivated and in the back of my mind I always know I am going to fail by February. But this year I have decided that I am going to do the word challenge. My word for 2009 is "new" - you can see my word in Ali's list. ;)

I am claiming Revelation 21:5-7 "And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!' And then he said to me, 'Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.' And he also said, 'It is finished! I am the Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children...'"

There are so many things that comes to mind when I think of the word "new" and this verse...

1. I like this definition: being other than the former or old

2. And this one: coming or occurring afresh; further; additional: new gains.

3. And this one: freshly; anew or afresh

4. When I think of this verse I think that my old life is finished and it is time to begin this new one.

5. I love the reference to the 'springs of the water of life' and the definition 'freshly; anew or afresh'

6. I want to become afresh this year spiritually.

7. To become the new person that God has always planned for me to be at this time in my life.

What is your word for the year? It can be anything - no rules. I would love to hear what you have decided.