Sunday, November 16, 2008

Caleb's birthday

Yesterday Caleb turned nine! He's our youngest child and I'm so missing those young years of raising children! Believe me, I get sentimental thinking about all those great years past. We have so many things that we could've/should've/might've/would've done differently, but overall we have SO MUCH we love to reminisce about. With mistakes made all along the way, we are not regretting how we've done our best to raise our kiddos. We have a ton of great memories and traditions established. We have lots of good laughs and chatting about growing up in the Hoppe household. And those days aren't over yet! We're gonna make the best of life, God-willing, and the best is yet to be! It's so fun being in the stage that we're in even now!

Caleb has a strong heart for God as well as compassion for his friends at school. It's so neat to witness his stories about how he has shared his love for Jesus with a couple friends from school. He is a leader wherever he goes. God has some special plans for him! It's gonna be fun seeing them unfold:)

We've got a big party planned for him a week from tomorrow. It's gonna be a bubble blast! He knows he's loved (with or without a party), and we hope he truly feels it when he's blessed at his birthday party. Life is worth celebrating!

Something to Say with Passion

We just went to two concerts (Sat./Sun.) featuring Matthew West. What a great weekend! I love his music, his style, and his lyrics. His songs really preach to my soul! I worshipped as if I were already in heaven! I appreciate how he has a renewed passion to live out loud for Christ, especially after having vocal chord surgery. It's in those times when it seems most dark and unclear that God's presence can be most felt. I know God's going to continue using Matthew as He has brought him through some tough times.

Tonight my daughter went to the concert with a few friends. I am almost speechless as I witnessed my daughter's heart for God. She was in tears because she felt there were some folks who were disregarding Matthew's message. She felt they were ultimately disregarding God and it just broke her heart. She has been yearning for strong Christian friends. Yet, perhaps she is the one who will need to stand alone for Christ and point others to Him. It's really tough seeing your child cry. It makes me stay on my knees for my children, praying that God would be their complete sufficiency and that they would be a true and loving light to the people with whom they are around. I am so grateful that Rick and I are very sensitive to their spiritual struggles. And though it's tough to watch them go through trials, I am so thankful because I know that it is during these difficulties that they grow in their faith and learn to stand for Christ, loving others no matter how great the pain. May Jesus Christ be praised through it all!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Kids make the proudest parents! (in the right sense of the word 'proud') :)

I know Scripture says that "there is no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." I believe that wholeheartedly and I am experiencing glimpses of great joy when I see character and humility ooze out of my children's hearts and mouths. I am deeply moved when I witness their compassion and understanding. I'm thrilled when I see their love for Christ and others. This is always the greatest prayer and delight. I understand that they are still growing and learning what it means to be a Christian, walking daily in the truth.

However, I want to talk about the great joy it is to see my children excel in skills. It's a different kind of joy (surely a proud one!) that I feel as I sit in the stands and watch my daughter Charis cross the finish line at a meet. It's an uncontainable one as I stand on the sidelines and watch my son Connor get the rebound and power his way back up to score the basket. It's a satisfied one as I hear my son Cameron describe the scenarios at his swim practice. It's a contented one as I watch my son Caleb dance with such cool rhythms and timing or create awesome prisms with his GeoMags. Though these are just a small sampling of the skills our kids are learning, I'm so happy to watch them develop and attain various goals. It's real fun being a mom right now and I'm a joyful one at that! I just had to share a few of my proud, yet thankful, thoughts I feel toward my wonderful children. Children ARE a blessing from the Lord!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Thoughts during Voting Season

Here I am - eleven months into the year, the night before the presidential elections, and on a site that I had intended to write on for well over a month now. As much as I enjoy writing, I remain hesitant to record my thoughts and/or even to draw conclusions. Earlier today, I had so many ideas of what I wanted to say. It's hard to focus and just speak on one topic at a time. But I've gotta start somewhere!

As we're on the eve of voting in a new president, my prayer is that I would be honoring to God in how I vote, in how I pray for leadership, in how I treat my fellow Americans, in how I train my children to view opposing opinions, in how I trust God's sovereignty, and in how I can make a difference in the little corner where I live. I believe that both tickets want the best for America, yet I place my full confidence in my God who knows what the future holds and who ultimately holds ME! I pray that we as Christians can lean fully on the Lord, rather than men, politics, and even America's history. I pray that we can be a light to the world and serve our fellow man humbly and graciously. I will endeavor to impact my family and community with an "attitude of fortitude." Psalm 86:8-11 says, "Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." This is my hope, my prayer, and my daily aim.