Merci is here. Merci Raine to be exact. Our 7th grandchild was born tonight into my hands. Such an awesome event, honor, blessing. Baby and mama are both doing great. The labor and delivery went great. She is pure gorgeous. And Me-mo (me) is ecstatic but now tired. I’m really surprised I’m home and heading to bed at normal hour. This was more than we could have ever asked for.

Merci - about 5 min. old

Dd’s wedding was yesterday. Although I didn’t have a whole lot of last minute things to do, just the normal wedding things - and out of town guests and not enough time to spend with them - my days and nights have been full, and I haven’t been on the computer for - what’s it been? - 3 days? Pretty unusual for me, and I’m sure my email box is full, but I haven’t even looked yet. So if you’re waiting a reply, it will be coming soon. Tomorrow will no doubt be back to life as ‘normal’. Although normal this week will be preparing for "The Seminar". (If you’re local, please check it out.)

After that, there is nothing on my calendar. Of course, that doesn’t mean I have nothing to do, but I plan to relax, prepare for our new studies, and maybe finish the rest of that "spring cleaning" that we didn’t get to.  Also hope to get back to blogging a little more regularly, once this whirlwind of extra activities for the last couple of months comes to a close.

Life is good, God is GREATER,

Still resting in the spirit, and sitting - At Jesus’ feet,
For Me and My House ~
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
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How can children be so controversial, especially in Christian circles? It doesn’t seem to be so in Muslim circles, or Mormon circles, and it wasn’t in Christian circles prior to the mid-1900’s either. But it is today. So this post will no doubt be controversial. But I suppose most of mine are. They are just challenges to get you thinking, renewing your mind through God’s Word.

Over 18 years ago God changed our hearts in a way that changed our lives more than anything else besides our salvation itself. He placed within us a conviction and the faith to trust our childbearing to Him.

Those 18 years have brought us 6 more children here on earth, and 2 more gone before us. Had we not submitted to Him in this area, we don’t know if He would have "overrode" our decisions, or given us over to our "own desires", but there’s a pretty good chance that we would be "empty nesters" now, instead of having a home full of toddlers to teens.

I would be done home educating our children, instead of having at least 15 years left to go. I would have changed and sewn far less diapers, and spent far less time in the rocking chair nursing a wee one. And far less time trying to teach teens (and advise young adults) to reason biblically, rather than make foolish decisions.

I’d be cooking meals for 2 now, not 8. Hmm, actually I’d be cooking, instead of having the help of our dd 16yo, and ds 13yo, and ds 10yo, and dd 8yo. I’d be doing laundry 2 days a week instead of 6. Hmm, all the above mentioned do their own on the other days. I’d be reading, writing and teaching others that I may never see or know my influence on or their coming and going, through the internet, instead of my own children in my own home that I have daily for 18+ years to influence and guide in God’s ways.

Some of you may be saying, those would be good things. But I believe God says differently. His Word says children are a blessing, a heritage of the Lord. His Word says we are to be fruitful and multiply. His Word says He made us one flesh (through the marriage covenant) because He seeks "godly seed." He desires that we marry, have children, and keep our homes. Them are fighting words for some of you, but they are the words of our Lord and Creator.

I have a high calling, to raise all the children that He should choose to give us, without trying to interfere with His plans. To say God can do anything He wants, and if He wants to give us a child He will do it whether we are rebelling against Him or obedient to Him is itself an attitude of rebellion to God’s rule over our lives. To say God has no say so in how many children we have is even more so.

God will do what He wants. And every knee will bow. The question is will they bow in obedient, humble submission, or will they be forced to bow as God overrules their rebellion against Him?

In many areas we have not conformed to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. We are a work in progress, as all His children are. But in this area He has given grace that we can walk in humble submission to His plan for our lives.

If you want to read more of our personal journey in this lifestyle click here. I hope to also post more Scriptures and Biblical reasoning on this in the future.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
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Since 2000, my brother and his wife have been putting up elaborate Christmas decorations. They have been featured in the Colorado Springs and Denver area news for the last several years.

Their display consists of lighted figures synced to music played over a low power fm radio station. We were able to go vist them at Christmas time a couple years ago to see his display in person. Incredible! Last year they added a projection screen showing cartoon clips and such -including a salute to our military. They now have over 75,000 lights and are switching to LED lights to help the electric bill!

You can see this year’s news story at KRDO’s website (click on video of 13 Days of Christmas, his is the winning display, the video feature and interview.) [UPDATE: KRDO did not leave the story up.] You can see pictures of this year’s display at his website, Colorado Christmas, by clicking on Photos -> 2007. This year’s videos aren’t up there yet, but you can see last year’s that are posted on youtube.

Here’s one from a couple of years ago:

See another at my L.E.D. blog.Not the same as our Christmas celebration, but my brother has put an incredible amount of time, thought, work (and money) into this to bring cheer to Colorado Springs children.

It’s 4 days ‘fore Christmas and here at our house,
everyone’s bustling, thank God there’s no mouse.

No stockings, but garland is hanging so bright,
And outdoors the house is all trimmed with the lights.
Nativities cover each table and shelf,
No santa clause here, not one tiny elf.

The presents are piled so high on the bed,
The children are cranky, they must all need fed.
Then tackle those dozens of presents to wrap,
Then rock with the baby to give him a nap.

Mail grandmother’s gift that must travel so far.
Make gifts for the neighbors, something in a jar.
Let’s sew up some ponchos and not take a rest,
Then lounge pants for boys, and chaps and a vest.

Let’s have our friends over and exchange our toys.
That will bring smiles to both girls and boys.
And caroling we’ll go after dinner together,
We couldn’t have asked for much better weather.

Now haircuts to get and pictures to take,
the one in our card looks like a mistake.

Clean up the house, here you take the broom.
Sister is coming, clean out the guest room.
Please wash the sheets. Then vacuum the floor.
Can you get the phone, while I get the door?

The program is over, the children did great.
They each had a part and none came in late.
Joseph, who’s otherwise usually called Jed.
Played with the star, and poked Jesus in bed.

We’ll all go to church, communion to take,
Oh that reminds me, the bread I must bake.
We’ll take a nativity to sister’s grave.
And come home for cookies that our dear friends gave.

We’ll all go to grandpa’s, that is most of us.
Have dinner and presents, and relax - we must.
Then wake in the morning and open gifts here,
Mark actually has Christmas off for this year!

Then over to in-laws, more holiday cheer,
Then back home to crash before the New Year.

‘Though busy we are, it’s all for one cause,
To spread our God’s love, not play santa clause.

We love each one dearly, want to show everyone,
That God came to earth in the form of His Son.
To pay for our sins and bring to us new birth,
To make us like Him. We must honor His worth.

That babe in a manger, is King over all,
Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and then Paul.
He’s risen victorious, conquered death and the grave,
He made you and me, and is worthy of praise.

May all of your focus in this busy time,
Be upon the Lord Jesus, our God that’s Divine.
May all celebrations, so busy yet fun,
Bring glory to God, and bless God every one.

© Lisa Hodgen 2007 All Rights Reserved

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
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I’m up early this morning. Ds3 had just climbed over me and snuggled in, so I caught on quickly when he began throwing up.

Now, when a child starts puking in bed you basically have 2 options. 1) run for a bucket and save the floor. 2) grab the child and run for the toilet to spare the bed further. I hate cleaning pukey mattresses and we have hardwood floors, so I grabbed the child. He mostly made it.

I think it was something he ate; so he is settled back in and falling asleep. I have the bed changed and sheets washing, and the toilet and floor cleaned - thank you God also for Bac-Out (an enzyme stain and odor spray). And now I’d really like to get a couple more hours sleep myself. (Fat chance.)

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Sunday was Life Chain. Did any of you participate? We didn’t stand in our "usual" spot, so didn’t really see how many were there in comparison to other years. It was quite chilly and windy - and we weren’t altogether prepared to stand in it for an hour. (We had a fellowship dinner, after church, which gave us just enough time to make it to Life Chain, and not enough time to get appropriate clothes on.) But, of course, we survived.

The 2 little boys did remarkably well, standing nicely with their signs for about the first half, and then sitting down. 7yod did super, standing and holding her sign the whole time. The older children are "old hats" at this, but the 2 older boys still can’t stop fidgeting. But we were all there, standing for life.

On a related note, don’t miss Doug Phillips blog, In Memory of a Woman Who Chose Life. It’s an awesome story about a woman in a "crisis" preganancy that did not abort her baby, and has a super ending that will bring tears to your eyes.

For Me and My House,
Lisa @ Me and My House ministries

Here’s what it looked like an hour or so ago out the street from us. No, we don’t live anywhere near water. We live in the valley between 2 rivers. But our rivers are usually nothing but sandbars with a trickle flowing between them. This year they’ve gotten pretty high with all the rain we’ve gotten. But we’re a long way from flood stage.









Yes, this flood was a broken water main. Thankfully it didn’t flood the front or side road of our house. It was just starting to creep up to our neighbors to the west, and was flowing down the alley to our north and up their driveways. A big dip in the road to our west saved us. The pictures of our boys are on the corner to the west of us. The car - yes it flooded INTO the car - is on the street just west of us. We tried to knock on the door, but no one was home. They won’t be happy when they get home. That’s our daughter behind the tree, (in pink) with water up past her knees. The boat in the first pic is about 1 block west of us.

It took the city about an hour to get someone there to turn off the main! It had burst and raised one whole segment of the street - 1 side of the street about 1/4 of a block long and water was spewing out of both sides of the raised portion. (See first picture) The kids had a great time walking in it and riding their bikes through it. By bath time the water was receding and no fun anymore.

Now the backhoe and jackhammers are at work breaking the street up. Will that be the song that lulls me to sleep tonight?

Here’s a pic of Justus. He’s about 1/2 hour old.

At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House

Rejoice with us!
Yesterday at 5:10 p.m. our grandson, Justus Emmanuel, was born at home with me assisting. He is the first child of our fourth daughter - our 6th grandchild, 3 of each now.

He was 8#14 oz, and has a full head of long black hair, and a round face.
Both Mom and Baby are doing great!

now.

He was 8#14 oz, and has a full head of long black hair, and a round face.
Both Mom and Baby are doing great!

And I’m not getting my picture upload to work at the moment.
See you tomrrow, Lord willing.

At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House