Thanksgiving

Happy Kiddos heading into pick out our Christmas tree

Scripture to Think About...

Acts 17:24, 27

24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands."
27 "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."

Some Thoughts...

God living in us...Wow! How to wrap our minds around this? How to be the hands and feet of Jesus? Today we are exactly one month away from Christmas. How will we use this month to celebrate Jesus? What would he want us to do to honor him? He is so patient, loving, and kind to us. How could we not want to honor him? What will we do? What will this season mean to us?

Here is my goal...

I want to do at least ten random acts of kindness with my kids this year as a countdown to Christmas. I am really excited about this. Already started on my list and I am realizing the blessings will be for the kids and me as much as they are for those we are reaching out to. We spend so much time on the day to day. I just want K and C to know that there is a whole world out there who needs loving. I will try to update as we go. Maybe.

 

 Thanksgiving...

Wow! What an amazing day. Really, every day is Thanksgiving but to have a day set aside to reflect upon all that is wonderful around you truly is amazing. We had so much fun as a family. Benjy was off work, and it was really great that we could all four be together. We went over to my aunt's house first, which was such a reminder of how thankful I am for my extended family. To be with aunts, uncles, and cousins who you respect and are doing amazing things for the Lord...to reflect that you grew up with these people and have roots with them and to be able to see what amazing people they are...it's a blessing to say the least. Then we headed over to Benjy's mom's and had a great time there, too. I actually barely saw our kids because they were having a blast playing with their cousins. Afterwards, we went to my dad's for a third event. He is a great cook and made a huge meal. I have to admit I was pretty stuffed before we even got there and Connor Bean was beyond exhausted at that time. I felt bad because we only got to stay for a little over an hour, but I did really appreciate Daddy cooking and the food was delicious (yes, I ate even though I was full...isn't that what we do on Thanksgiving?). Enjoyed relaxing with Benjy after the kids went to bed. Loving having our Christmas tree up. Will post some pics.

 

Over the past year and a half or so, I've really tried to be more specific with my thanks giving. Here are some blessings I have on my mind today...I do have many, many, many more but at the moment these are the ones I'm thinking of in no certain order...

-Date nights with Benjy

-A mom who loves my children almost as much as I do (yes, mom, I said almost)J

-My morning quiet time spot in our living room (chair/table/lamp)

-The man Jesus was and the life he lived...the ideas he stood for

-Grace

-Beginning to accept who I am rather than trying to be like others...I said beginning

-The kind-hearted, thoughtful, hard-working, athletic, energetic, go-getter that Karson is

-The way I look at Connor and smile and he smiles back at me with his mouth and even more his big, brown,shiny eyes...Gracious, he melts my heart

-My 30's

-My diva niece wearing her press on nails and then asking me to pull her underwear up (because you know, she didn't want to mess up the nails...ha!)

-Jess finally buying maternity clothes...her precious little baby belly and seeing excitement in her eyes

-My friends that I can be totally real with

-Hanging out with Benjy when the kids go to bed at night

-Our Christmas tree...it rocks!!!

 

Love to all...

Here are a few pics of Karson as "Forest Ranger" in her 1st grade Thanksgiving play. She worked hard to memorize her lines and did a great job...if I do say so. J

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 





 





Thoughts

I love…

-watching the way Connor plays with his cars and dump truck and “boy things” in general. Growing up with my mom and sister, I really had no idea how boys played. I have adored every minute of getting to know my little man.

And…listening to Karson practice singing for her upcoming and first Christmas musical at church. She takes practicing very seriously, which matches her responsible, independent personality dead on.

I’m reading…

-Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst and a Christmas novel by Debbie Macomber

I’m watching…

Parenthood (one of my favorite shows)

I’m thinking…

about how today I really felt God speaking, which is a pretty incredible feeling.  I was questioning whether I was able to express how I felt about priorities and “To Do Lists” in the way I had intended at our Wednesday night Bible Study last week, and honestly there was a God moment today in which I was reminded that we can turn to His word when we are trying to understand and convey ideas to others. I don’t always have to use my own words…which let’s be honest, is probably a really good thingJ. He led me to one of my favorite stories in the Bible (Mary and Martha/Luke 10:38-42) which turned out to completely fit with the topic without me having to ramble on. Then, miracle of all miracles, he reminded me that we could also just go right ahead and ask Him when we need clarity on certain topics. For instance, when we are unsure if we should add on another activity in our day, we should ask him. I just love this!!! How awesome is it that we can literally ask GOD to show us how he wants us to spend our days…areas of our lives that he wants us to change, as well as ways we are getting it right. Great reminder today of two simple but majorly powerful gifts…The Bible and prayer.

Some soccer pics...

 

Karson with her bud Hunter

 

 

 

I am...

-watching The Voice, and soooo excited that the Hallmark Christmas movies have started. Oh how I do love a good, or even mediocre, Christams movie.

-glad to have some quiet time with the kids all snuggled into their beds - yet wishing I wouldn't have nagged them so much in the process of getting them there.

-remembering how great it was to take part in The Lord’s Supper at church last night. It had been a long time since I’d had the opportunity to participate, and it was special to me. I got this strong, somewhat rare, feeling that we were experiencing something really close to what we are supposed to be doing here on earth as people who love Jesus. In the hustle and bustle of life it seems like we do so much that seems far away from who he really is. With all the “practices” and routines we participate in, partaking of The Lord’s Supper is an act He told us to do and showed us how to do in the Bible. It was amazing and heart wrenching to take a break from life and focus on his body and his blood and just how astounding he is and his sacrifice for us was…to think that he gave his life for us in every way is too good to take for granted. It was almost like pressing pause on this life and getting a glimpse of the one to come.

-thankful for an unplanned date with Benjy today Christmas shopping and having a yummy lunch at Jason’s Deli (thanks to my mom who graciously let Connor Bean hang out with her).

-laughing about the punk rock skateboard we bought Karson with pictures of these skull crossbones loving girls on it. Benjy says to me as we are pondering whether to buy it or not, “That girl has staples in her neck” referring to the print on the skateboard. That makes me laugh outloud as I’m typing. Ah, the things you do (and buy apparently) after you become a parent that you never thought you would.

-enjoying watching Karson practicing in her first ever season of basketball. According to her coach tonight, she will be the point guard. Safe to say, no one EVER said that about her mommy ha!

-beyond happy that two girls from our Wednesday night Bible Study got baptized last night at church and one former student of mine, as well.

Love to all!!!

PS – You should try this “I am” thing. It’s fun.

 

 

 

 

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday morning. I hope you all are looking forward to going to church today as much as I am. I so know that sounds extremely "Christianese" as I like to call the language Christians sometimes talk that other people don't understand, but I am ready to go and sing to Jesus partly because of the quote I wanted share today.
 
Quote I love:
"God gave us grace for a reason-he knew we'd need it." (from You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth)
 
Another reason I'm looking forward to church today is because on the first Sunday of the month Karson comes into "Big church" with us, and I like her getting a glimpse of grown up worship and hearing our contemporary service pastor's message. She likes the hot chocolate, so it's a win-win:).

Love you all, and hope you have a great Sunday. As always, a couple pics below: Humor me, just a few more summer ones.

Karson riding a wave in.

Where have I been?

Well, my goodness. It has been over four months since I blogged. Where in the world have I been? This summer I led a Ladies' Bible Study in our house as well as the Bible Study I lead on Wednesday nights at church, so I took a sabbatical from blogging. I have learned that putting too much on my plate makes me less good for everyone, so I decided to focus on the Bible studies, but have been feeling the Holy Spirit prompting me to return to my blog now that summer is over, so here I am. It is Saturday morning, and my sweet little stinkers spent the night with their Granna last night, which they absolutely love doing. She spoils them beyond rotten. As a matter of fact, just yesterday at the store Connor (who is now three and a half) said to me, "Granna gets us everything." when talking about Granna buying him a cupcake at the store. Thanks a lot, Mom. Just kidding, I actually love the way she adores them.

So what's new? Karson has started first grade. She loves it. She is so sweet. Our most proud moment this year so far was when she got to move her clip up to pink (which is the better than good colorJ) for offering her breakfast juice to a new student and just drinking her water from her water bottle. Now, let me tell you, Karson does not like water, so for her to give away her “sweet” drink was BIG! She just finished her soccer season and loved it. Now we are on to basketball. She is quite the little athlete, and we have a lot of fun watching her play.

As for our little Connor Bean, he started pre-school this year. He goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-1. He likes it, but I think he still likes being at home more. So far he hasn't gotten into trouble at school too much. He did have a little pinching incident, but we won't even go there because I'm sure it was the other kid's fault (Ha!!). He is such a fun child...ALL boy and definitely dynamite in a small package in each aspect of his personality. He makes me laugh out loud every day.

Spiritually, what's on my mind? I really like something I've been seeing on Mary Beth Whalen's blog (Cheaper by the Half Dozen) called “I am”. She writes "I am" and then fills in the blank, so here I go.

I am...

1. thankful for the desire and obedience to post a blog entry again. I have been through some spiritual struggles this summer and even into the fall. I haven't come all the way out, but I will tell you what I think I have learned from this time. Even what the enemy means for evil, Jesus uses for our good and for His glory, which makes me think of Romans 8:28. We sing some version of the lyrics to this thought in one our worship songs at church, and I am starting to have true buy in to it. It is so hard to figure life out sometimes...especially Christian life, but I think God is showing me that it really does take the difficult, doubtful, less thriving times to form the true complete picture of who we are supposed to be in him. Our “yuck” is a part of our story, and our story is what makes us able to be used by him and for him. Man, have I come a long way in the transparency department if I do say so myselfJ. Even one year ago, I probably wouldn't have told a soul that I had struggled spiritually, which leads me to my next ...

I am...

2. realizing that flaws are beautiful, too. What a relief! I read an article by Angie Smith recently called “The New Pretty”. Can I just say that I am so thankful for the women writers out there who are being brave enough to put themselves out there and be honest and transparent?!! I am now on a bandwagon for women to stop hiding their imperfections and be open with each other. We are who we are, and trying to be a perfect version of someone else is never going to happen and will leave us feeling defeated, anxious, and sad. We talk so much in our Wednesday night Bible Study about how when we compare ourselves to others we are actually comparing the worst we know about ourselves to the "best" they display for others to see. Maybe if we all started admitting our flaws and being more raw and authentic with each other, we could help one another not feel so inadequate. God gave us all different strengths and skills. It is okay if we aren't great at everything. We are enough! Even as I write that I feel a bit anxious. The day I believe that truly, will be a day I consider extremely victorious. I am not there yet, but at least the water is starting to bubble (I know that is an AMAZING metaphor ha!). As a side note, why are we enough? Because Jesus is enough. He is more than enough, and we are his, so we are enough. He gave so much (his entire human life) for us to have peace, yet we give it away freely. John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” How often do we deny living the full life for a life of worry and doubt?

I am...

3. sooooooo thankful for my healthy, precious two children and my husband who works so hard for our family and puts us first always. I can't end this entry without saying how blessed I am.

Thank you for humoring me and reading my rambles. I know this was a long entry, but I guess that’s what happens when I don’t write for four monthsJ. I truly love all my friends and family out there and hope you are doing well.

Below are some pics for you to look through if you want.

PS - Think today about some of your less flattering qualities and how they have actually been used for good in your life or someone else’s life. And, if you want to be really daring, go ahead and share your flaws with others. I promise it won’t hurt as much as you think.

Karson waiting for her friends to arrive at her birthday party.

 

 

The friends have arrived.

Chick-fil-a day with our buds. We won't even mention the fact that my friend, Hannah, had on a mama cow shirt, and I had black dots taped,
yes I said taped,  all over my pink dress.
Ah, what stay at home moms will do for a free outing and free food.

Ha! For those who don't know, this is Karson and Madi, my niece. I fully realize they look like pitiful uncared for children, but this is how they look when they wake up in the morning, and it reminds me soooo much of Jess and me when we were little. This picture was taken very early in the morning on Karson's birthday while we were at the beach.



Sweet pic of Jess and Madi

                                      

 

 

 

We had the best time at Family Kingdom Amusement Park.
Here's Connor on a plane. He rode every ride he was tall enough to get on
 and would even stand on his tip toes to try to up his chances:).
 

I looooooooove this picture of Mom and Beny as they were watching
Karson and Connor on the bumper cars.
 

The kids must have ridden the junior roller coaster 20 times. They both loved it.

 

 

Karson's first time on a Ferris wheel.

Karson's first day of first grade.

Connor's first day of 3k.

The lunch box and backpack got too heavy:).



 

 

Giving Thanks

Good morning, All. Hope your week end was great. Our big news is KARSON LOST HER FIRST TOOTH AT SCHOOL FRIDAY! Oh, she looks adorable with her little missing bottom tooth if I do say so myself. She was beyond excited. Of course, I have included pictures below. She so wanted to lose it before kindergarten let out for the summer. Today is her last full day, so she barely made it.

Just wanted to send out a quick blog this morning. I have several verses I want to share. First, Psalm 118: 1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” For today, and as many days as you want, let’s set a timer either on our cell phones, kitchen clocks, work clocks, etc. for every hour, or if you want to be really ambitious, every thirty minutes. When the timer goes, off, take a minute to thank God specifically for some blessings in your life. You may even want to write them down. Many of you know about my gratitude journal, but for those who don’t, since January 1, I have been keeping a gratitude journal. Every day I write the date and then at least one, but usually more, blessings I’m thankful for. I try to be pretty specific. Some examples are: on 3/16, I thanked God for memories of eating at a place called Katherine’s Kitchen with my mom, grandmother, and sister when I was growing up. On April 27, I thanked God for Karson being really obedient when I asked her to clean up. On May 4, I thanked him for Connor “diving” under water to get his diving sticks, which meant him just sticking his little head under. This book has become a priceless treasure to me, and when I look back at it, I am AMAZED by all the blessings God gives me everyday. I would strongly recommend you try out the gratitude journal. You wouldn’t have to write in it every day; you could modify it to fit your lifestyle, but the point is not skipping over God’s blessings and taking them for granted. Another verse I wanted to share today is Psalm 118:8, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” In our world, it seems like we live by the “nothing is ever enough; give me, give me, give me” mentality. We are surrounded by the media pushing “more, more, more”. This is sad because, unfortunately, when we are constantly wanting”more,” we miss what we already have right in front of us…things as simple as a cool breeze just at the right time or a big smile from one of our children. Something to keep in mind is that the world will leave you empty no matter how much you attain. True peace is only found in filling yourself with God and finding your identity in Him.

I have to give a shout out to one of my best friends, Hannah. She introduced me to a book (almost a year ago) called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I highly recommend this book. It truly changed my life in the areas of being content and thankful. It isn’t necessarily an easy read, but for me, it was well worth the effort.

Love to all!

PS – Go set your timersJ.



Here is the little snaggle tooth; unfortunately there is a pink glare, but you get the idea.



Here she is opening her letter from the toth fairy.



Counting her tooth fairy money...





  

In a Slump?

Hey, Friends. I know it has been a while since I blogged. I hope everyone reading this and all your family members are doing well. Thanks to all of you who prayed for me as I spoke at the church I grew up in a few weeks ago. It was such a blessing to be there. The people of that church invested in my life in more ways than I could count through the years, so if you are one of those people and are reading this, THANK YOU.

At the Bigham household, we are so ready for school to be out. Most of you know our oldest child, Karson, is finishing out her kindergarten year. It has been a wonderful year, but she and I are ready for her to be home…mostly I J. My friend Amanda gave me a great idea to write all the things we want to do this summer on popsicle sticks and put them in a jar…that way we can pull a stick out every day this summer. Karson and I sat down at our kitchen island on Saturday night and wrote down all kinds of activities from play in our sand box to swim at my sister’s pool, play Guess Who, etc. etc. etc. We had the best time, and it made us look forward to summer. Karson is such an example to me of embracing life. Whatever she does, she is “all in” and has the most amazing time (although when we are ready to leave a place, and she is having a total meltdown at almost six years old, this slightly comes back to bite usJ).

On a separate note, I don’t know, it seems like I’ve been in a little spiritual slump over the past week or so. I wanted to share with you some truths for times when we have these slumps. Even when we don’t “feel” like investing in our relationship with Jesus, He is our unchanging source of strength. He is alive and living within us, and we can ask him to help us be motivated to draw near to him.

Here are some steps we can follow for these yucky times:

1. Ask him to help you. Pour your heart out to him. Tell him what you’re struggling with. Be honest. Example “Lord, I don’t feel very close to you right now.”

(1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.)

2. Ask him to change you. Ask God to give you the desire to come near to him.

(Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.)

(James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.)

(Mark 9:24 I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.)

*If you don't know what to pray, try just praying scripture. Praying his word is praying his will.  

3. Obey. Even if you don’t “feel” like it. We don’t have to “feel” like spending time in God’s word, to do it. We don’t have to “feel” like praying to call out to God. We are called to spend time with him every day, even if we don’t really want to. He isn’t limited to our human emotions. He can still speak to us even when we think we are in shutdown mode.

(John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.)

(Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”)

4. Remember, THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you relate to the fact that there are ups and downs in the Christian walk. Thankfully, the downs almost always turn to ups. You may feel down right now, but you continuously have hope in Jesus. We really do bounce back…I think this is called grace.

(Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.)

(Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Hope this helps some of you out there who may be in a bit of a slump. If it offers any comfort to you, I think I’m coming out of mine. Hope you will be out of yours soon, too.

If any of you have tips for “down” times in our Christian walk, please leave them in the comment section below. You may have to register your email, but I think it is a fairly quick process.

There are a few pics below.

Love you all.

Jodi



Karson Holding her T-Ball Trophy at her Banquet



Karson, Madi, and Connor at Karson's K5 Musical

 

Happy 38th Birthday, Honey.



Such a Great Daddy!