Happy June!!

What's going on with the Politte Family:

• Let's start with the youngest: Kyle is now 14 months old and refuses to walk. If you try to help him walk, he jumps or cries until you give up. He can eat with a fork, bear crawl, clean up his own messes, say cracker, mama, bubba, dada, thank you, mine, more, go, baw baw, ball, and Kentucky but he refuses to learn to walk.


• Ty is growing up big time. Which is a good thing. :) We went to Eldorado High School graduation on Friday at the football stadium. Ty was sitting in Sylas' lap and he said "Dad, why do they have this thing here?" Sylas explained that the football stadium was the biggest place in Eldorado to have the ceremony so that everyone would have a place to sit. Ty goes "Well, why don't they have it at the stadium in Angelo? It's bigger." :) Ty is a problem solver like his Daddy. I love that. He will also do anything for a laugh. He makes up stories constantly about himself and his best buddy Kas doing crazy stuff. Friday night he said "Mom, do you know what Daddy did last night?" I said "No." He said "He tooted on a cat. In Sonora." (Of course I laughed -- Sylas wasn't even in Sonora the night before). But what really made me laugh was when Jacob said "Did the cat die?" Poor Jacob, he's going to believe everything that comes out of his brother's mouth!!



• Speaking of Jacob...last week was his final week of Pre-K. You know when you have little kids and your life is insanse and seems so out of control, all the older ladies say "You better enjoy it, it goes by way too fast!!" Then you're left standing there thinking about how much faster you wish some moments would pass....well, it's true. I can't believe that next year Jacob will be in Kindergarten. I really think I'm going to miss him during the day. In fact, it's bringing me to tears right now. I know you're not surprised, Ryan. :) Just a moment ago Jacob came in the living room and asked me when we were going to buy his supplies for Kindergarten. He said he wants to go do that tomorrow. Not a bad idea!! Anyway, last week was filled with festivities at Pre-K. We had the pre-K Program (Jacob was adorable -- he wore a tie that matched his shorts -- I'm sure I won't be able to pull that off much longer). Then he had pre-K water day on Wednesday. Sylas and I helped out with that and I think I got the worst sunburn I've ever had. At water day, the principal came over to the pre-K portable and announced that she had a very special prize for the only child in pre-K with perfect attendance. Yup, it was Jacob. He won a personal DVD player!!! Sylas and I were both standing there with our mouths wide open -- I guess it paid off getting him there every day! Then on Thursday, their last day, they had ice cream sundaes. So fun! Now Jacob wants to have a graduation party with all his buddies at our house. I think we're all partied out for now...



• Speaking of partied out....Sylas is definitely exhausted. Two weeks ago he was up all night DJing for Relay for Life here in Eldorado. Then he wrapped up the last week of baseball season and had a summer camp kick-off party for the youth. He brought in the band and the speaker who are going to be at camp this summer. What other youth minister does that?!?!? So cool. Anyway, then last week he did all kinds of things to help out with the end of school festivities at the elementary. He gave out awards at the pre-K program, was the 'main man' for water day, made snow cones for 3rd graders, and helped with sundaes on Thursday. Friday night he was up all night again at Project Graduation keeping everyone awake until 5 am. I have never made it up there for too long, but everyone says that without Sylas, it would be a total bore. He got out the big water slide for us a week ago and we have been enjoying it ever since. Even Kyle!



• As for me, I've finally hit the 40 pound mark of weight loss. I wish I could tell you that I feel amazing, but I don't. I trust that I will feel better than ever at the end of the summer, though. I will go to San Antonio for detox treatments every Tuesday and Thursday throughout June and July. It's a huge task and it's sort of looming over me right now -- it almost seems impossible -- but I know it's not. It's just going to be difficult getting the boys taken care of. However, the Lord has richly blessed us by taking care of over $30,000 worth of treatments and I trust that He is not going to leave out any details that need to be taken care of!!!! I told you in an earlier post that my aunt Dayle felt led to give $5,000 for a month of treatments (a $10,000 discount) and then the next time that I spoke with my doctor on the phone, he said that he felt led by the LORD to give me another month FREE. So we're trusting that same God to provide for $4.00 a gallon gas and a babysitter!!! This is the last week of my liver detox (I hope - I'll find out for sure on Tuesday) and I am certain I will feel a lot better when it's over. I have to drink an awful shake twice a day as a meal supplement and it's getting harder each day to get that thing down!! Cara and Jason each took a sip so they have sympathized with me!! Speaking of those two, if you haven't checked it out already, go to their wedding blog http://bebeearnoldwedding.blogspot.com/



• We are all looking forward to June -- I mentioned I will go to San Antonio twice a week -- next week we have a baseball tourney all week here in Eldorado that Sylas is helping with -- then the next week is VBS and Sylas' Mom is coming (Praise the LORD) -- then the next week we'll be in Liberty Hill while Sylas is at preteen camp -- then the following week Kyle will have tubes put in his ears -- that next week is youth camp -- then July 4th festivities in Liberty Hill -- then Jacob has his tonsils removed on July 11th -- girls retreat is July 17-19th -- Rock the desert is the next weekend -- and Cara gets married on August 2nd!! OH Did I mention that during all this my Mom and I will be planning a wedding?? We need your prayers!!!

New Background

The Mario Bros background is dedicated to Jacob. He absolutely loves playing the old Mario Bro's on the Wii. It's hard to swallow the fact that it takes him a fraction of the time it took Ryan and I to beat each level...maybe it's that huge noggin of his. :) Here's to old school nintendo games on the Wii!!!!

Sanctification

Yep, I'm being sanctified...that's for sure. And I am way overdue in sharing with you all how the Lord sanctifies me through my children. If you haven't read Cara's blog in the last week, check it out: http://unreachedpeeps.blogspot.com. The Lord showed her something through Kyle last week and it was a great reminder to me, as well.
As you may or may not remember, I blogged last August about how I was learning about the gospel all over again and the way it applies to our every day lives. Lately in our ministry opportunities here (mostly with the youth) I have been unsettled by a lack of understanding of the gospel and what it means to be 'saved.' When I asked four girls last Sunday night if they were saved, they all said YES! When I asked them what it means to be saved, or how you are saved, three of them gave me a list of works and one flat-out said she wasn't sure. Of course we went over it and looked through Ephesians 2 -- it was a great reminder for me. A reminder that we need to be constantly aware of the richness of mercy, the great love, the grace, the kindness, the surpassing riches of Christ. I think a lot more about my sin, God's wrath, my insufficiences. Well, I had really been in 'a funk' because my thinking is really lopsided (is that a word, and if it is, is that how you spell it?)...anyway, one morning a few weeks ago, Ty was pretty wound up (imagine that) and I went to go give him a hug and love on him before he left for school. Usually he loves that and craves that attention, but that day, he didn't want me to hug him. And what came out of my mouth? "Ty, don't resist my love for you." AS IF he knows what that means. But I knew in that moment that the Lord was showing me how I was resisting the understanding of His kindness, mercy, grace, love etc. I shared all this with my Aunt Carye and she sent me a book called Abba's Child by Brennan Manning. I knew when she said she would send it to me that I needed to read it...but in the back of my mind I was resisting it still. I was telling myself "That's not a sound book, just listen to the title, yes, you're abba's child, but you really don't deserve it, and you need to read books that expose your SIN, Shea" (anyone else do this???) Well, I started reading it the day I received it in the mail from Carye...and it was just what I needed to hear. I will post some quotes in a minute but I have to share this story with you as well:
Tonight Sylas and Jacob and Ty went to the Baccalaureate service at the High School (I am recovering from Strep...again). Well, apparently Ty wet his pants and didn't tell anyone because he didn't know where the restroom was. (disclaimer: this is the first time he's had an accident in quite awhile) Tonight when they got home and were eating dinner, Sylas goes "Ty, I love you so much.....even though you teeteed your pants." Ty responded "Yeah, and Jesus is still happy with me!"
Ya think I needed to hear that?? Of course I did. I am learning to rest in the gospel. I have read C.J. Mahaney's take on it - loved it. I subscribe to Don Bebee's teaching on it -- love it too. And now Brennan Manning is really opening my eyes to who I am in Christ. Check this out:
"Come to me now, Jesus says. "Acknowledge and accept who I want to be for you: a Savior of boundless compassion, infinite patience, unbearable forgiveness, and love that keeps no score of wrongs. Quit projecting onto Me your own feelings about yourself. At this moment your life is a bruised reed and I will not crush it, a smoldering wick and I will not quench it. You are in a safe place."
Thomas Merton: "Quit keeping score altogether and surrender yourself with all your sinfulness to God who sees neither the score nor the scorekeeper but only his child redeemed by Christ."

He also quotes Dietrich Bonhoeffer and teaches that guilt is an IDOL. "But when we dare to live as forgiven men and women, we join the wounded healers and draw closer to Jesus."

Now, how does this affect our ministry here?
"Grace and healing are communicated through the vulnerability of men and women who have been fractured and heartbroken by life." Isn't that the truth? I love the idea of being vulnerable people who allow others to be vulnerable. You know, the whole 'take off your mask' thing they taught you in the youth group 15 years ago??? It's SO necessary today for us as adults. Especially here in our little Eldorado world. Masks honestly make my heart sick. Vulnerability is so KEY to healing!!

One final quote (John Eagan):
"Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion."

So, our theme for girls retreat this year is BELOVED. I'm excited to share what the Lord is teaching me. I welcome your insight and counsel!! :)

Sweet Baby Kyle

Kyle turned one about a month ago...and I just now got around to taking pictures of him tonight. I told Cara that I HAD to get it done because each night I lay in bed thinking that another day of his life has gone by without me getting his picture!!!!! We had about 20 minutes of picture taking and then he was D-O-N-E. Kyle is a thinker. It is so great to watch him sit and study things, as you see in the picture above. I can't wait to hear him talk about all that he studies!! He isn't walking yet, but he's pretty close. He just enjoys being held by his Mommy and Daddy and Aunt Boo!

OK, in some he looks like me, some he looks like Sylas, and some he looks just like Uncle Ryan!! What do you think??This is his new favorite scrunch face -- he's really laughing and it's so adorable!!

Look at those curls!! He had fun playing on the slide. I really love the fact that he would rather be with his brothers than anywhere else. The hardest days are when it's just me and Kyle at home all day. He's so bored!! I just love that they are all growing up together and forming such strong bonds. Jacob and Ty absolutely love him -- and he adores them too! I need to get some pics of the three of them together. Someday...

WOW

READ CARA'S BLOG. NOW.
http://unreachedpeeps.blogspot.com

What's Up in Eldo?

• Kyle turned ONE a month ago and I still haven't taken his one year pics...my bad. :)
• I DO NOT HAVE LYME DISEASE!!! I had a false positive since I had Lyme when I was 18. I still had the antibodies in my blood, thus the positive test results. However, my Dr. in San Antonio asked if they had done further blood work to confirm the Lyme was still active. He told me about a "Western Blot" test that I should have had done at the same time as the antibody test. Well...the Doctor who told me I had Lyme disease (a doctor in Sonora..about 20 miles away from Eldo) ALSO did the western blot test...and it was NEGATIVE. I asked his nurse to fax me all of my labs for the Dr. in San Antonio and when I looked over them it was very obvious that my western blot was negative. I immediately called the Doctor's office in Sonora to ask WHY they didn't go over those test results and realize that my Western Blot was negative. Guess what? I haven't heard back from them. Imagine that. The good news is, I don't have Lyme disease. I am so pumped about that. I am now being treated for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have known for years that I had the symptoms of that and I am pretty stinking excited about the opportunity to overcome it and live a healthy life -- rather than give into it and surrender to a life of pain and fatigue!! So far I have lost about 30 pounds and would like to lose about 30 more. That is a huge jump start to knocking this junk out of my body. It's a commitment for life -- healthy eating is essential to dealing with Fibromyalgia and CFS. I look forward to a life of health and wellness!! I am still seeing the Doctor in San Antonio and have absolutely NO plans of returning to the Doctor here in Sonora. I started a liver detox today that will be rather unpleasant but totally worth it. That lasts about a month. Then I start the overall detox and I will be having to drive to San Antonio twice a week for a month. Dr. Hernandez (in San Antonio) condensed 3 months of treatment into one month and lowered the price from $15,000 to $5,000. It's a long story....but I have already received the $5,000 from a very generous Aunt of mine. :) Hallelujah!!! We just have to come up with the money for gas (will probably be about $1200) and the money for my supplements (probably about $1500). The expense so far has been overwhelming but the Lord is providing, I am thrilled to say!! He is faithful, that's for sure. I am learning so much through this experience about the character of God. I'll blog on that soon.
• Pray for my parents. Check out this website: www.americanfamilyreunion.org
• Cara is here for about 3 weeks and I AM SO EXCITED!! You can read up on her at http://unreachedpeeps.blogspot.com
• Ryan and Sarah seem to be doing alright -- I believe last week was the last week of classes for this semester for Ryan, and I assume Sarah has several more weeks. I would link you to their blog but, well, they haven't exactly updated it since August. :)
• I saved the best for last. Sylas has been amazing through all of this sickness stuff. You know that part about "In sickness and in health"?? Well, Sylas hasn't really ever experience the "In Health" part -- but he will SOON!! But he has certainly loved me in my sickness. I feel like we're a team and we're fighting this together. I am overwhelmed with his desire to provide for our family financially and physically and emotionally through all of this. He is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get me WELL -- and we are looking forward to the fruit of our labor. You can read up on him at http://sylaspo.blogspot.com

The Twins

I have waited WAY too long to introduce you to the newest member of the Minnesota Twins!! He's an amazing pitcher, an incredible batter, and is even able to bat left OR right handed!!!! Quick story -- Jacob played catcher (as you can see below)and pitcher his first game. After the game, we were home talking about it and Sylas goes "Jacob, what was your favorite position that you played tonight?" Jacob's response "Ampire!"

I will do my best to show you the highlights of a typical Eldorado T-Ball game:




First time up to bat!

--A Swing and a HIT!!!!Jacob's On first...and Mommy eyes are overflowing with tears....I can't help it!!!!

Ok, you gotta hear this story. There was a ground squirrel on the field. It ran across the field and stopped right between the third base line and the dugout. Jacob was on second, his buddy Michael was on first, and Mason was up to bat. Mason couldn't care less about the ground squirrel -- he's a country boy and he sees that stuff all the time. So he smacks the ball. That means Jacob runs to third, and then his coach sends him home. Well, remember where the ground squirrel was???? Jacob was totally distracted by the opportunity to study this animal on his way to home plate. So much so, that Michael caught up with him. It was SO FUNNY. Notice Jacob in the first picture looking back at the squirrel while Michael runs full speed ahead. They basically crossed home plate at the same time. I'm LOVING Tee-Ball. These kiddos are precious -- there aren't words to describe the joy it brings to a Mom's heart to see your child run across home plate!! I love how Jacob looks into the stands to make sure I saw his "Home Run." :)

Check out that tongue hangin' out!!

Lyme and the FLDS

I don't usually post random blogs but it works for the Plevans, so I thought I would. I know it has been forever since I posted -- or at least it seems like forever because SO MUCH has happened!!
Everything in Eldorado has quieted down as far as the FLDS. But what remains is the compound, which is now inhabited by men and women who have lost their children. I don't think they deserve to have their children back at all, but my heart aches for the mother's who don't know anything other than polygamy and the doctrines of the FLDS...and now they have lost their children. I just can't imagine the heartache. We need to pray that the Lord would open a door for the gospel to be brought to those people. Polygamists are truly an unreached people group in the U.S. -- you can read more about it at http://www.shieldandrefuge.org/
What's on my heart today is my health. I have been feeling alright -- but yesterday and today have been pretty rough. I found out this morning that my Lyme disease was only slightly reduced by the antibiotics...so my physician in Sonora prescribed another month's worth of antibiotics. The hard part is that those antibiotics contribute a lot to my feelings of nausea and fatigue. I am also seeing an Integrative Health dr. in San Antonio. He is a doctor of natural medicine and is probably one of the smartest people I have ever met in my life. I am supposed to have an appointment to speak with him on the phone Monday morning about the Lyme results and where we go from here. I appreciate him allowing me to visit with him over the phone, because the combined total of the last two doctor's visits (including supplements) was about $3,500.00. If you would like to sponsor a doctor's visit, I am willing to wear your company's logo :) In all honesty, the drive home from San Antonio yesterday was tough -- I was pretty discouraged about the cost...and it just began to seem foolish to me. But this morning when I woke up feeling even worse than yesterday and I got the results of my bloodwork, I realized that I need to trust this dr. and submit to his plan for wellness for me. It is going to be a long road -- a challenge physically, mentally and financially -- but I have seen remarkable results in other people's lives after they've gone to Dr. H in San Antonio, so we have committed to making it work no matter what. Please pray for that for us.
I will post some pictures that Sylas took out at the compound -- since our blog is private now, I figure it's safe to post them. You'll be amazed at how close he got to the temple. He will have to post soon so you can hear an insider's view!!

This is the temple annex, where Sylas headed up the cook trailer for several days. THE temple

Not Your Typical Friday

For those of you wondering -- we are doing just fine. I can't say much at all about it but I just wanted to post a short blog letting everyone know things are good. You can call for more info. and if I know you, I'll tell you :) Our phone has been flooded with calls from media across the nation so leave a message and, like I said, if I know you, I'll call you back.
If you haven't heard what's going on, watch CNN, Fox News or go to www.myeldorado.net

Kyle's First Birthday!

Forget the cake, let's blow the horn!! I'm ONE!
Here Ty, we know you will eat it!
Yay! I survived my first year!!

Ok, I am still awake and I guess I better go ahead and post about Kyle's first birthday. It was today and, poor guy, he had a rough day. He woke up with fever and we just gave him ibuprofen all day. I think he's getting his eye teeth and I'm sure it's painful. Poor guy!

Anyway, we made a cake and opened presents this evening. It was simple but appropriate. Nevermind that for Jacob's first birthday we had a party with people driving in from 100's of miles away, a custom-designed cake and all the coordinating accessories and hundreds of dollars worth of gifts. For Kyle, we called a couple friends about 5pm to see if they wanted to come over for pizza and cake....and we certainly didn't want/need any gifts!! Oh well...I'm sure he'll never know!

Here he is with the birthday cards he got in the mail today from Aunt Dayle and Uncle Jerry, and Aunt Carye and Uncle Jim!! He was surprisingly ecstatic about the cards!! He also got a book from Dayle and Jerry about Daniel in the Lions Den. Jacob showed off his new reading skills.

Opening presents was a new thing for Kyle. His big brothers opened all his Christmas presents. But I was ready to fight for his right to open his first birthday presents. So,after about 30 minutes of studying and checking things out, Kyle finally unwrapped his first gift!! Thank goodness, he only had 2! He's very inquisitive and fun to watch. I can't wait until he can communicate with words -- I'm sure I'll have many questions to answer. I can almost see his brain growing!!

Once he figured out that there was a toy inside, we had to stop and clap!

Jacob was very patient and watched intently as Kyle pulled off each piece of wrapping paper. Ty was long gone to his room to find something else to do!! Overall, it was a great night. We are so thankful that we all survived year one!! Kyle is a true blessing and I'm so thankful for all three of our boys!! It is so exciting to watch them grow and see what the Lord is molding them into. We can't wait!!!!!! :)

Ski Trip Pics

OK, we survived our Church Ski Trip 2008 to Purgatory (Durango Mountain) Colorado!! It was quite an eventful trip -- with a walk through the snow with 30 of us at 5am...including all three of my kids and NO Sylas!!! He was already at the lodge checking us in and the bus stalled in the snow. We all had to get out so that the bus didn't roll backward. I think we looked like we were on the Oregon Trail as we all walked up the mountain in uncharted territory. Did I mention Jacob was still wearing the shorts he had on when we left the 80 degree weather in Texas? Mom of the Year!!!
We had a blast overall and are really grateful for the opportunity to go. It was absolutely beautiful!! I will never forget it. The boys were so pumped to be able to learn to ski and tackle the mountain...or the bunny slopes...either way they were pumped.
I attempted to blog about all 5 of us in one blog but something's up with my computer. So I posted about each kid individually. And I explained all of that in the first post about TY -- which is now the third post -- so it may not make any sense at all. Either way, I had my wisdom teeth taken out on Wednesday and I think they got more wisdom than tooth. So that's probably the entire problem. :) Enjoy the pics!!

Sylas and Kyle on the Ski Trip

Well, I figured I better tell you about both Sylas and Kyle. Sylas only got to ski half a day...mostly because we took all three kiddos with us!! But also because his knee has been bothering him and he was nervous about messing it up. Man I am SO thankful that he didn't!!! So here's super Dad with his boys! Notice he has already brainwashed them -- I think they wore Longhorn stuff the entire trip!! Aunt Dayle helps him out with that. :)

Baby Kyle spent most of his time in Mommy or Daddy's arms. It turns out he had an ear infection and was on breathing treatments the entire time we were up there. I didn't realize what altitude does to babies. But he still managed to enjoy himself a bit...in the hallways of the hotel!!
Here's a couple of him in the snow:

Finally, here's a pic of Sylas and I. We were taking some family pictures and I wanted one of just the two of us. He was standing kinda far away from me so I said "Hey, act like you love me." I was joking, I promise. But here's what I got. I guess I deserved it.

Jacob on the Ski Trip!

OK, here's Mr. Jacob on the ski trip. He's such an intellectual child. No credit to Sylas and I...he was born that way. As I got him dressed for his second day of skiing, he informed me of rules 1 through 3. And when we met his instructor, he inquired "Jimbo, what was rule #4?" Nevermind ski technique, he wanted to make sure he knew all the rules. :) I just love that!!

Ty on the Ski Trip!!!

So I tried to do a post with all three kids and pics from the ski trip, but my computer won't let me. I'm really not that good with computers and the fact that I even have a blog is just the grace of God. Plus Sylas helps me out a lot. SO I guess each child will have their own post! We'll start with our wild child.

Here's what Ty did most of the trip:

Ty spent most of his time eating the snow and throwing it at people! But he proved to be a great skier! He did not, however, discriminate against colored snow. He ate it all: brown snow, yellow snow...it didn't matter. And it never ceased to disgust me.

Your Sins Will Find You Out

The kid who broke into our house has been apprehended for 4 felonys in one week. He broke into our house, the pastor's house, the church and Rosa's restaurant here in town. He used to be in our youth group. He confessed to everything because they matched his shoe print to a footprint on the Anderson's hot tub cover -- which he stepped on in order to get in their house. The whole thing is just disturbing to me and my heart is literally broken because we know him. But at least now I know that it wasn't some strange person who slept in our house and violated our privacy. He's lost. Please pray for his salvation and pray that we maintain a spirit of forgiveness toward him.

GOOD Friday

You know what? It IS a good Friday. And we have reason to rejoice. I just spoke to my dad on the phone and he encouraged me to celebrate OUR resurrection as believers on Sunday (Easter) as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The old things have passed away, and all things have become new.
I called my father because I am facing some serious fear right now. As some of you have heard, our house was broken into while we were gone on our ski trip. I am excited to post pics of the trip soon -- but, for now, this whole 'breaking and entering' thing has sort of overshadowed the ski trip.
When we arrived home from Colorado at 3am this morning, we found some 'evidence' on our dining room table that someone had been in our home. It was both alarming and disgusting. Because we were both physically exhausted, we checked out the house and locked everything up and went to bed. But when we got up and started cleaning up the wreckage from our trip, I noticed several things that were out of place...and began to feel very violated and fearful. We called the police here in Eldorado and they now have DNA evidence of the person who broke in. It will take a couple months to get the results. But we feel confident that they are doing the best job they can do to take care of and protect us.

Even more than that, I'm confident that the Lord is our shield. Psalm 4:8 has flooded my thoughts when the fear begins to rise up in me:
"In quietness and peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

I spoke to my dad about my fears -- and between him and Sylas, I feel secure this evening. They have pointed me to the Cross and assured me of my security in Christ. It is for that reason that I am asking the Lord to help me forgive the person who invaded our home and invaded my personal privacy and belongings. Perhaps some day I will have the opportunity to share the gospel with them and offer them the forgiveness that only Christ offers through His death and resurrection that are so close to our hearts this time of year -- and should be each day. It's so comforting to me that His mercy is new every morning, that His lovingkindnesses never fail, and that we were crucified with Him and raised from the dead...well, I can't say it any better than Romans 6:
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

So let's celebrate resurrection day together -- our resurrection in Christ that will one day unite us all eternally as we worship Him together!! This Friday is GOOD because we remember that our sin was put to death on the Cross -- that there is 'newness of life' -- that we are no longer slaves of sin!!

I promise to post pics soon. Please pray that I do not succumb to a spirit of fear, but rather pursue wisdom and a deeper faith in the Lord's sovereign plan for our lives. We know that suffering is inevitable and our pain is temporary. We trust that our salvation can never be violated and I will rest in that tonight.

Kyle's First Haircut!

Before
In The Process
After
Here are a few pics of Kyle's first haircut -- he did great!! He turns 1 in about 2 weeks -- can you believe it?? We can't -- but we're so excited!
We are leaving tomorrow at 1pm for Durango, Colorado!! I am really excited now because I have spent the last 10 hours packing for us! I got really overwhelmed at one point but now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Please pray for our safety and my sanity. :) We will be on a bus with the youth and a few other adults and, most importantly -- all 3 Politte boys!!! I know we will have a blast -- Jacob and Ty are both going to go to ski school and hopefully Jacob will be able to keep up with Ty by the second or third day. :) Can you imagine Ty on the slopes? I can't wait!
Sylas is preaching tomorrow on humility -- a response from the book Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney, with a focus on Philippians 2:1-10. I am really looking forward to hearing him preach. His zeal for the youth and for the church are such a gift from the Lord. I am constantly in awe of how he is able to accomplish so many things in a day, and still takes great care of his family.
We are in our seventh year of marriage now and the Lord has been so faithful to bring us to a new level of understanding of the Biblical purpose of marriage. We are grateful for that! I can honestly say it has brought us a lot of happiness and contentment -- isn't the Lord good!!??!?!
I will blog soon about my health and how it is finally improving. I recently found out that I have Lyme disease -- a flare up of the disease that I first contracted 11 years ago after being bit by a tick while I was backpacking in the Ozark Mountains. (I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true -- I really did go backpacking....and I really did NOT enjoy it). :)
I especially am not enjoying the Lyme Disease OR the treatment for it -- BUT I am learning to find JOY in all things -- because I believe that God is sovereign over ticks and that I can learn a lot through persevering through this. The best part is that it's completely treatable and in a couple months I should be feeling a lot better. Please pray for that, because I saw another Dr. last week who seems to believe that I also have fibromyalgia, a sister syndrome to Lyme. I'm just thankful for each day and for the ways the Lord shows me He cares about every detail of my life -- even my physical pain. The boys have been great at helping me stay on my diet (Sylas, not so much) :) -- and I am learning how important it is to take care of my body!!!! Either way -- I am so grateful to be alive and to be enjoying life with Sylas and these three boys who are precious gifts of LIFE! Each day with them is a gift and I am learning to embrace that and check my attitudes and anxieties at the foot of the Cross.
I will close with my theme verse for 2008. I came across this early in January and declared it my passage for the year -- that was about 6 weeks before I found about the Lyme disease. God is GOOD:

Proverbs 3:1-8
My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.

pics for you :)

Here are some pics of Kyle, Ty and Jacob -- I plan on devoting a post to each child in the near future. I would love to share their many 'faces' with you!

I'll probably start with Jacob's 5 yr. pics. We borrowed my friend Nikki's ranch and she helped me get some amazing shots! It's good to have photographer friends!!!