My Ebenezer

I have been reading through the Bible over a period of the last couple of years. I've done the Read-The-Bible-Through-In-A-Year plan in the past, but to be honest, I'm not really a fan of it. You have to read so many chapters at once to be able to finish in a year, and you end up glossing over some really good stuff in the process! Anyway, I'm in Jeremiah for my daily devotions these days, and while overall it has been a blessing, I sometimes find it hard to get excited about turning there for my daily reading. Today was one of those days. Noah awoke at 6am crying and never went back to bed, which meant my exercise time went out the window AND I had a tired, cranky 2-year-old on my hands. I sat down to read my Bible during his roomtime, and gave an attempt to read Jeremiah. Let me emphasize the word attempt . After reading the same chapter twice with no effect except to become frustrated at the sound of Noah whining downstairs, I flipped open my concordance to try to find t...

Just a couple things I wanted to mention. The House On Cellar Cir.: We ran into a snag this week on this rehab. The drain in the main bathroom shower wasn't flowing as fast as it should. Josh tried to "snake" it, but the snake wouldn't budge. This required him to drill down and remove part of the concrete floor to remove the pipe and replace it. Have you ever seen this done? It involves lots of work and a monstrous pile of dirt on the floor from all the digging. It reminds me of a story from my childhood about "moles digging halfway to China." (from The Large and Growly Bear in case you were wondering!) I don't know how much extra time or money this snag will add to the overall project, but I was over there today, and it looked like the bathroom was far from being called a bathroom. We keep working! Noah: I took him yesterday for his 2 year check-up and shots. The check-up was fine, the shots involved me pinning Noah down and then trying to comf...

Busy, busy, busy. That would best describe these days. I have a To Do list a mile long, and it seems each day more projects are added: Mop floors Organize Office (this really should count for at least 5 projects instead of one, that's how monumental a task this is) Finalize paint colors for new house Create a new schedule for myself since the old one isn't working Go through Noah's toys and get rid of the broken ones and those he doesn't play with Things like that which have to fit in around all the normal chores of everyday life. I thought I'd take some time away from all that busyness and give a few updates. Sinus Infection: I've had several of you send me messages inquiring about the wisdom of my decision to leave the pharmacy empty-handed in light of my sinus infection. :) Thank you! I have learned that it is indeed possible to die of a sinus infection, and also that there are other equally effective medications that don't cost $76 a bottle. So in light ...

Our dishwasher finally died after a long and terrible battle with incompetence. The thing couldn't clean! Saturday I pulled out my "clean" dishes, which still had grease and other food particles on them, even after running through an entire cycle. Sighing, I loaded them all back into the left side of my sink and washed them again. By hand. I took a picture of the finished product so that my hard work would be documented and not forgotten: Then we went to Lowe's. I now have a new dishwasher, which we will be bringing with us to our new home when we move. It works really well, and the best part is I don't have to spend half an hour re-washing "clean" dishes. Now I just put them away. It's better like that. :)

This is the day we have been preparing for since Matt, Jen, and Brianne moved here in December. Today we held our first Sunday services for Truth Baptist Church of Jacksonville! Leading up to today there has been much preparation, mostly on the part of Matt and Jen, but some on our part as well. Praying, ordering materials and equipment, passing out flyers, praying, visiting people, planning out the details, purchasing toys for the nursery, more praying. But when it came down to it, no effort on our part could bring any increase; it had to be the Lord... and He really did deliver!! We are so thankful to report that the first morning service at Truth went beautifully. We praise the Lord for the 29 people in attendance, for the preaching of His word from Luke 7 (A Sinful Woman Finds Forgiveness), and for working out all the details involved so that the service was truly a blessing! Getting things set up before the service Ready to go! This dear lady Lisa, whom Matt met through one of ...

That's me. The one with the sinus infection. The one who still has a sore throat and can't taste her food. I've been sick with this cold for going on 2 weeks now. Decided it was high time to kick this thing, and went to the doctor this morning. The doctor said it's most likely a sinus infection and prescribed an antibiotic. Terrific! Maybe I can finally start feeling better. Except when I went to fill the prescription, it was going to cost $76.00!!! I left the pharmacy without my prescription (Josh would have fainted at that price and I almost did too!) and instead bought a bottle of vitamin C for $6.99. I'm hoping I can knock it out with that. What did people do before they had antibiotics? Surely people didn't just die of sinus infections. Surely if I get a lot of rest, take my vitamin C, and keep drinking water and PRAY, the Lord will heal me of this infection without the $76.00 antibiotic? I really hope so, because this is a Big Weekend coming up. Sunday wi...

Let me start by saying what a positively gorgeous weekend the Lord gave us to celebrate my Mom's birthday. The whole weekend was sunny, mild, and perfect. I spent as much time as I could outdoors, knowing that when I got back to Florida I'd be indoors again for the duration of the summer. Everybody came who was able to, so it was the first time we'd "all" been together in years. Probably since my mom's last big party 5 years ago! I did get more than 2 photos. Granted, they aren't all great pictures, but I'm just happy I remembered to take some! In no particular order: My mom with her grandchildren, minus the 6 who couldn't make it. Left to right back row: Meredith, Zach, my mom, Marisa, Rachel. Left to right front row: Esther, Noah, Amy, Becca. This was after the formal picture was taken, so some are still smiling, and others are all done. :) My mom with her 4 remaining children: Lori, me, Leah, and Ted. We all miss Tom! Opening a gift This is ...

We had a small party for Noah on Tuesday. I kept it very simple: just homemade pizza, salad, and brownies with ice cream for dessert. I never used to understand why people (namely my mother) took pictures of the table. I was always like, "So WHAT?" Mom, I understand now. I do. Here's a picture of the table just for you and everyone else who now understands. :) A very excited Noah opening his gift There was never a more perfect gift for him; his very own chainsaw!! And it makes noise and the chain spins and it has real buttons and knobs! He hasn't put it down in 2 days. :) Thanks, Matt and Jen!! Josh and I got him this bike. Also a good choice for this little boy! Between this and his chainsaw, I haven't had to do much entertaining at all! My little boy and me. Cheesy grins and everything. Happy, happy Birthday Noah. :)

Two years ago today, the Lord changed our lives forever with the addition of our Noah Samuel Rowley. Born at 10lbs 4oz, 21 1/2 inches long, that little (*ahem*, big ) bundle of joy has been the answer to so many of our spoken and unspoken prayers! He has brought us so much more gladness and laughter than we ever thought possible, and has driven us back to the Lord more than we ever imagined. We love you, Little Man! Today has been more of a catch-up day than anything. Noah and I returned from our trip to "Grandma's House" last night about 12:30am. Noah did not sleep on either of the airplanes, so consequently has slept away much of his birthday. For that matter, so have I! We both slept way in this morning and then I laid down for a nap when he did and slept over 2 1/2 hours! Noah is still sleeping. Josh will have to work late tonight, and I am unburying ourselves from a week's worth of undone laundry and trying to put our lives back in order after all the traveling w...

Josh is coming home in a couple hours and I'm waiting not-so-patiently. I don't know how single mothers rear children without a male influence and a small break every once in a while. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME; I love my little Noah, but I know there is a gap that I don't fill very well when Josh is missing. The Lord knew what He was doing when He created a mom and a dad to rear the children. Anyway, I digress.... The Big News (ha, ha) is that my taste buds came hobbling back to me today! They're still a little dull, but they're back, and that is why I pulled out the leftovers from Pierogie Night to eat for lunch today. :) Nothing like being able to taste your food again. You think it doesn't matter. It does. Trust me. So Josh comes home sometime around 4:15pm, and we head back to the airport at 5:45am tomorrow morning for Travel, Part II. I can't even say Bright and Early, it's just plain Early. Noah and I will be leaving for my mom's big 75th Bi...

My husband left today to attend Grammie's funeral in Kansas. It's not that I ever look forward to being separated from my husband, but I've found that the upside to him going away for a few days is that I can eat whatever I want for supper . I wouldn't necessarily call Josh a picky eater, but for sure he doesn't like everything that I do. I have a deep affinity for white rice. Pierogies. Chicken Parmesan. My husband doesn't share these affinities. Naturally when meal planning, I like to have good reviews, so over the past several years I have cut out foods like these not because I've been forced to, but because I aim to please. Therefore, on those occasions when I am on my own for dinner, I console myself with the thought that I can make whatever I want! Tonight we had meatballs, pierogies, and broccoli. However. Sometime today between lunchtime and dinnertime, unbeknownst to me, my cold decided to take my tastebuds hostage! I could not taste a thi...

**This post is steeped in infertility. If this is too weird a topic for you, please don't read it. Thank you. :)** I am usually surprised at the depths of God's mercy and love, though I shouldn't be. This morning was pretty rough. Not only had I been up much of the night with a terrible sore throat and beginnings of a cold (thanks, Josh! He did end up sharing it with me after all), but our hopes for another baby were dashed again . Josh and I were so hopeful this time too. Things were looking good, and we had begun imagining how we'd tell our family and the ensuing shocked looks on their faces. :) Imagining Noah with a new baby brother or sister. Imagining the suitcase of maternity clothes being aired out again and the clothes actually worn--by me . Every time this happens--when the bottom drops out on our dreams once more--I feel like I've been flattened. I forget to breathe for a minute as the reality of it hits me like so many hammers. I rarely cry a...

We are sad and yet somewhat relieved to report that Josh's Grammie died last night after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease. We will surely miss her and her sweet smiles and kind words for everyone, but we know what eternal joy she is rejoicing in even as I write this! She is with her Lord now, and free from the sufferings she knew here on earth. While she lived, she was a blessing to all of us and I'm so thankful for the years that I knew her. I recall the first time I met her 9 years ago, Josh and I were dating. I was just getting to know his family, and I can remember how welcome she made me feel in the midst of a sea of strangers; like I was part of the family already. This lady loved her husband and children, and loved the Lord. We will miss her! I decided to include the above picture of Grammie instead of a recent one. Even though her features changed much over the years, her expression was the same. Same wide smile. This is how I'd like to remember her. :)

My favorite thing to do with Noah before he goes to bed is sing with him. I am astonished at how many songs he has learned this way, just by hearing them! He doesn't sing them on his own, but if you leave out a word or a phrase, he can fill it in. He knows 3 verses of "Trust and Obey", 2 verses of "Jesus Loves Me" several Patch the Pirate songs, and some other children's songs including "Zaccheus". Below I got on video "I'm In The Lord's Army" with Noah supplying the necessary words. And forgive me, but it's tilted sideways. Turn your head. And I had to include this one too: It's another video singing "I'm In The Lord's Army", but I had to capture the way he says, "shoot the artillery". Call me crazy, but it sounds EXACTLY like, "shoot terrorists up". He's been walking around the house singing those words and it took me forever to figure out he was really saying "shoot the art...

I think we are almost done with potty training. We're down to about 1-2 accidents a week, usually when we're out and can't get to a bathroom fast enough or if Noah is playing with fun kids and forgets to go. (And actually last week, he accidentally wet his pants when Josh set off a "scary" firework in our back yard. Tee hee! Noah didn't think it was too funny, but the rest of us did.) Progress went slowly if you consider that we started this whole thing in February, but if you consider Noah's age and the fact that he's a boy (which I always heard are harder to train), I don't think it's that bad at all! It's been nice to be able to go places without the diaper bag. On the other hand, I now know where the bathroom is in every major store in our area because of Noah. :) It never fails, when we get to a new place he has to go to the bathroom. My little boy is growing up!!

My dear husband has a cold. It was a couple days in the making, complete with a sore throat on the first day, irritating runny/stuffy nose on the second day, and full-force in all its congested glory today. I feel badly for him, I really do. I hate having colds myself. That mental fog which you are forced to function through, and not being able to taste your food or breathe very well in general are probably the worst side effects in my opinion. Which is why I'm trying desperately to avoid it. Sleeping in the same bed with a sick person is probably not the best idea, but what is a wife to do? So far he has joked about me turning my head away when he comes to give me a hug, and refusing to share a cup or his food with him. But I think he would take me a little more seriously in my efforts to stay well if he really thought through the ramifications of me coming down with a cold... If he is sick, the business slows down for a day or two. If I am sick, the house falls apart, meals are n...

Last weekend was chock-full of birthdays! Brianne's on the 3rd, our Nation's on the 4th, and Jen's on the 6th. We're getting all caked out over here. ;) For Independence Day we did Absolutley Nothing in the morning. I cannot tell you when the last time that happened was. Before Noah was born, that's for sure! We just sat around and talked all morning! Then in the afternoon, we played games. What a life. :) Things got more interesting around dinner, though, when Jen's family that was in town joined us for dinner. We all enjoyed good old-fashioned hamburgers, hot dogs, fruit salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob topped off with cake and ice cream. After dinner most of the crew went to the beach to watch fireworks, but Josh, Noah and I stayed behind. I'm probably an old fogie, but in my opinion 9:30pm is too late to start fireworks with an almost-two-year-old on a night before we have to be at church the next morning. (They started at 9:30, which means you do...

Singing "Happy Birthday" and presenting Brianne with her Rubber Ducky Cake How all of us wish we could eat cake. :) These sunglasses were one of Brianne's favorite gifts! This ribbon was part of the wrapping, but Brianne thought it was the gift. Her first puzzle Digging to the bottom for another gift Brianne, Matt, and Jen Our niece Brianne turned one year old on Friday! What a delight she is to all of our family; you will never meet a happier little girl. We were so excited to gather for her birthday party last night and dozens of pictures were taken (not all of them by me). It was like the paparazzi in there for a while! :) Happy Birthday Brianne!

We've been working with Noah lately on recognizing if people are girls or boys. He usually gets it right, and can point out people and say "There is a girl right there!" The fun for him these days is to get it wrong on purpose just for the response and shock value. Last night at supper he was saying, "Mommy a BOY!!!" just to watch my over-reaction. It was too fun not to video and blog about.

We are back from vacation. Praise the Lord our flights went smoothly on both trips, and Noah behaved better than expected on all the flights. "Better than expected" means just what it says. He was not extremely well-behaved, but he did....well....better than expected! Becca's wedding was beautiful and I hope I will always remember it at least in my mind, because I got a whopping two pictures of it. Two. Two, people! How embarrassing is that!? Anyway, the happy couple is now in Maine on their honeymoon and no doubt oblivious to everyone else. The first few weeks of marriage are like that. *sighs* :) It was especially nice to see most of my family all in one place for the first time in years. My only complaint was that it was too short. Josh, Noah, and I had to leave the reception early to head back to Connecticut, and I hear I missed the best part of the reception: Becca had written a song for John and sang it for him! Oh, the sweetness. I wish I had been there. Other than...