BLOG MOVED!

I moved the blog!  I have been posting at www.weepingtolaughing.com   There was a while that I didn't blog much but I picked it back up a few months ago.  You can follow me there and catch up :)

Thanks for taking an interest in me and my family!

Jennifer
www.weepingtolaughing.com

Eliya is 5 TODAY!!!!!

I can't believe that my sweet, smart, fun little girl is 5 today.

She told me she thinks she can jump higher and count further now that she is 5.

She is a such a joy.

She is definitely MY daughter; we are A LOT alike.

 She is all about all things girl these days. Eliya saw a commercial on this week and said "Mama look! The lady has on a pearl bracelet...why doesn't she have pearl earrings too?!" Yeah we are in for it :)

Yesterday morning I heard her singing from her bed. Later I asked her if she was singing and she said "Yes, I was making up a worship song for Jesus". She probably followed that awesome moment with hitting her brother in the head or something but those moments are precious...Just like she is.

Eliya, you made me a Mama and I love you so much.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Blessed

This past Sunday at church, our pastor said something that the Holy Spirit used to strike my heart. He mentioned Deuteronomy 26:18 that says we are a treasured possession to the Lord.

When I think of a treasured possession, I think of

something of great value

something that I hold dear to my heart

something that just the thought of brings me joy 

and a smile to my face

something precious

and loved

Oh how I need to hear that sometimes. I struggle to break free from the idea that what I am TO God depends on what I do FOR God. I am so thankful that it is so much simpler than that!

My husband Kyle has spent the past 6 months telling me how much he loves me, how grateful he is for me, how blessed he is because of me…and that I’m precious and of great worth.

These two paths have intersected for me this week. Marriage is a picture of Jesus and His bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33).

I am especially aware of the gift I have in my husband and in our marriage; that he affirms in daily life the heart of God towards me. Thank you Jesus!

And thank you Kyle for loving me in a way that makes my heart more tender to God!

and they lived...

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Life has been fun and crazy and busy!  Kyle and I truly had a fairy-tale wedding on the beach in Maui.  We loved everything about the day we got married!  We loved the pastor who performed our ceremony, our photographers, the perfect day, the beach that was clear except for us, the sunset and ESPECIALLY the moment that our love was sealed in covenant before and with God (and the state of Hawaii of course). 

God is so good and I personally and completely affirm that HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW.  I am so thankful to the One who restores and redeems everything. 

We have been married two and a half months and are now fully in the swing of life.  I am learning to be domestic for a family of five now.  I love my new son Rylie who has a huge heart and is so much fun.  Eliya and Simeon have adjusted very well.  We have gone to the lake a few times and had a blast swimming, tubing and spending time together. 





I made a slide show of some of our wedding pics and a few clips of video from the wedding, but the file seems to be too large for YouTube or google...so here are a few of our favorite pictures.  Be sure to find us on facebook Kyle Jennifer Henson!

Loved and In Love



A friend of mine has said a few times that the passage in Song of Songs 2: 10-13 ring true for this season of my life. 

"11.Behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come..., Arise my love, my beautiful one and come away." 

God is so good.  I have always loved the song Blessed Be Your Name because the theme of the song and of life is that God is so worthy of worship, love and my all...in every season.  He doesn't change and He is always good!  Can I just say that I LOVE the spring season that He has brought my heart and my family into. 

Kyle and I quickly believed that there was intention on God's part in bringing us together.  One month into our relationship, we began the process of premarital counseling.  We have prayed, read, and submitted ourselves to spiritual and pastoral wisdom and believed that God has given us the peace to commit our lives and family to Him through the gift of marriage.  Friday, April 1st at sunset, we will get married on the beach in Maui. 

I am loved so well by Kyle. God has given me a real gift in him.  I am very excited to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him.  We strongly desire to love each other well and bring glory to God through our marriage.  I am more than blessed by this man who is strong and sensitive, sweet, thoughtful, romantic and who genuinely loves Jesus.  I am blessed even more to get to be a part of his son, Rylie's life.  Rylie, much like his dad, is fun, goofy, sweet and sensitive.  All three of us love Rylie and miss him when we are away from him. 

THE PROPOSAL
For my friends who will want the details, I was a little grumpy at Kyle's house and he said he would cheer me up.  He got the guitar out and started to sing me a song.  This is a little out of his comfort zone and I could tell that he was nervous.  I LOVED it and thought even the nervousness was so cute.  After two false starts he sang me the song Grow Old with You.  It was the sweetest and most romantic thing ever.  I had no thought that he would propose at that point.  I had suspicions the day before that it might be happening soon, but was convinced that I had been wrong and had fully let go of the idea.  After he sang to me, he got on one knee and asked me if I would marry him.  I replied ABSOLUTELY.  Then, I was in shock (...maybe I still am) over the ring.  He took a lot of time and picked exactly how he wanted the stone set and all the other details about it.  It is beautiful and he far exceeded my expectations.  I love it and that it in part symbolizes his affection and commitment to me.  

Words can't describe how excited I am that this week has finally come and that in a few short days I will be married to this amazing man that I believe was sent FOR me by God.  Kyle Henson, I am so in love with you and I want to grow old with you too!  :)



Fairy Tales

I can’t recall ever liking fairy tales; although I’m sure as a young girl I probably marveled at them the same as my daughter does now. As an adult, I have felt much more logical and practical. My thoughts have been that fairy tales don’t happen; it’s just an unrealistic twist of reality that sets young girls up for disappointment. I have even thought if I should be protecting my daughter from the disillusioned view.


I believe in part that our culture, along with many in the world, longs for and loves fairy tales because Jesus has written it in our spirits. He is the fulfillment of every part of the Cinderella dream. I have many times identified with this. We are lost, broken and wounded and then He finds us and makes us His own. He does this at salvation and we are looking for the greater fulfillment of this when He returns to the Earth and fully rescues His Bride, the church. I love this angle of it and believe and hope fully in it.

God is wrecking my views and changing my heart! In early December I visited some friends in Kansas City, MO and they asked if they could pass my name along to their brother Kyle in North Carolina. After a couple of brief messages on facebook, I felt like it would be more work and effort than I thought I could afford at this point in life. Since it was the brother of friends, I thought I should at least be honest and tell him I wasn’t interested, so with that intent I let him call me.

Two hours into our first conversation, I remembered that I still hadn’t told him I wasn’t interested. He was easy to talk to and I had really enjoyed talking to him, but I had to say what I had intended to say. I really thought he was a great guy, so I told him that I had several friends that were coming to mind that were single. His reply was that he wasn’t interested in my single friends. That conversation ended with him asking if he could call again (given that I told him I wasn’t sure I was interested). I told him I was too tired to decide right then, so he could ask me again the next day.

The rest is rapidly becoming history. I knew that before I considered opening my heart to him, there were lots of things I needed to know. We logged close to 20 hours of intense conversation before we even met. After too many nights of staying up on the phone until 3 and 4 in the morning and numerous trips back and forth from Ga to Nc, my heart has fully been captured! I am so amazed at how God has brought this together and has completely caught me off guard and brought this amazing man into our lives. God is giving me my own fairy tale. Through this, I have heard the Lord say that He is turning my bitter into sweet. I know and have experienced that God is good and faithful in every season, but I am seeing His kindness and tenderness towards me in new ways these days. My heart is alive in love!

A little about Kyle :) He loves Jesus. That’s the most important part! He loves his sweet 7 year old son Rylie. He loves motocross. His heart is huge. He is sweet and romantic. I see Jesus in Him! He is perfect for me…AND he believes in fairy tales!!!

Year in Review

Our year in review.

It has been a LONG year.  Obviously more so emotionally than in actual time.  I'm thankful for the end of this year.  I'm thankful for my children who keep me insanely busy.  I'm thankful that we are in our house after an 8 month long delay in necessary renovations to the house we moved to.  I'm thankful that God never changes and that He has a plan and purpose for our lives.  I'm thankful for the house of

            prayer that I get to be a part of!

I look forward to 2011 (and spring!  is it too soon to be anxious for?). 

Eliya has grown and changed so much this year.  She absorbs information and ideas so quickly.  She has been going to Awanas, a Bible program for kids at a local church, and has memorized many verses.  She is social and funny and a lot of fun.  She loves her brother and although impatient with him at times; she is the first to his side when he cries or gets hurt.  He often goes to her when he is crying!  She loves singing, dancing, and drawing.  She is READY to learn how to read!

Simeon is such a joy.  He is still small enough to snuggle and I'm hoping it doesn't change anytime soon.  He talks up a storm and LOVES his sister.  He asks for her and about her any time she isn't with us.  He potty trained well and quickly (although he still wears diapers to bed).  He loves to pray for dinner and likes to thank God for each specific thing on his plate.  He also likes to thank God for suckers occasionally. 

   Thanks for keeping in touch with our family through the blog.  Hoping that your holidays are sweet this year and that you are drawn nearer to the heart of God!

With love,

Jennifer, Eliya and Simeon

Sensitive Hearing

I rarely get to sleep later than 7am. Usually, my son is up pretty early and greets me if I don’t set the alarm. My aunt spent the night with us this past Tuesday night and offered to wake up with the kids in the morning. This usually doesn’t work because I still hear them. The kid’s rooms are downstairs, and my room is in an open loft upstairs, so it doesn’t take much. In an effort to take advantage of her offer, I slept with ear plugs in. Somewhere around 3am, I found myself at the top of the stairs with Eliya at the bottom. I asked her what she was doing and she told me she had to go potty. Of course the bathroom is right next to her room, but I suppose ascending the stairs to tell me first makes perfect sense to an almost 4 year old at 3 o’clock in the morning. I helped her to the potty and back to bed, and then I returned to my bed… ear plugs still in.


I lay there wondering at the fact that I didn’t even have a cognitive thought of hearing a child and choosing to get out of the bed. My first memory is being awake at the top of the stairs knowing I heard one of my children. It’s amazing that God has wired mothers like that. My effortless, less than conscious response to the faintest sound of my child is automatic and responsive. I immediately asked my Father to make my spirit that sensitive to His voice. I long for my spiritual ears and eyes to be so set on the One who sits enthroned in heaven. Samuel’s response to the Lord was “speak Lord, for your servant is listening”1 Sam 3: 9-10. Even now Lord, I ask that you would awaken my spirit to Yours! Speak Lord…and help me to listen!

Life is like a mortar and pestle

I got to go to parts of the Glory of Intercession conference last weekend at IHOP Atlanta. As I mentioned in the previous post, my heart was heavy and I wasn’t “feeling it”. I went anyway because besides knowing I needed it, I had already paid. The first service in, Corey Russell was talking about how we have to get our minds set on heavenly things.

A rather repulsive experience.

If dirty diapers gross you out, read no further.  I just had to post this most horrifying experience on the "Mom blog".  If one's misfortune brings you delight...enjoy.

Too Rich Not to Post

Hearing the voice of God

I was just pondering hearing God's voice.  I am in a season of pressing in to hear His voice more clearly.  I am also currently reading Rees Howells Intercessor.  This man is an example of one who emptied himself so utterly.  In doing so, he made room for the Spirit of God to dwell in him and work through him in amazing ways.  Once when a young Christian asked him how he knew God's voice, he said "Can't you tell your mother's voice from any other?...well I know His voice just like that."  Jn 10:4 says as a shepherd, he walks before them and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice.  Mt 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied"!  More "food" for thought:  Isa 55:1, Isa 55:2, Jn 4:14

Father,  thank you for a desire to hear your voice.  Thank you for giving me hunger for more of you!  Help me to only take on what You want me to take on so there is room for being still before You.  Help me to talk less and listen more when I'm with You.  From the place of intimacy, give me the words that sustain the weary one (Isa 50:4).  You are so good and I am so grateful for your grace and mercy in my life.  In Jesus' name.

Eliya and Simeon

I love my kids.  I don't think the patience in parenting that many moms seem to have naturally is mine; but my children are keeping me humble and at the feet of Jesus. 

My aspirations for them are different than what many mother's would aspire for their kids.  I dream far less of what they will do with their life and mostly of who they will become in Jesus for the sake of the Kingdom of God.  I greatly desire them to walk in a place of knowing the heart of God toward them and the things that are on His heart that they base all of life's decisions by that knowledge.  If in the end that means they have positions of prestige in the world or that they walk out their life in unseen ministry to God; I pray that it will all be to the glory of God. 

I blogged a little about each of them where they are in life today at the FAMILY tab.  Enjoy :)

BLOGGING FUN

I really like getting thoughts out in writing.  It's been theraputic and fun, and time consuming...at times. 

I decided to change the blog a little so that whoever might be interested could navigate to the parts that DO interest them.  Sometimes I feel strange about blogging one post about my heart before the Lord and the next about going to Babyland to see cabbage patch dolls with the kids.  I realize all of life is "spiritual", but I like having the categories too.  :)

Use it ALL Lord

Today is one of those days…again. Hindsight, I can see it in the works the past few days. I will give you a glimpse of grief. There are many great things going on; God’s word is alive and I feel a draw to Him. Good things happening at the house of prayer and my house is getting closer and closer to being ready for us to move into. The last day or two, I start feeling unusually irritable and frustrated. I seem to have less patience for the kids and overall I feel sadness draped over me. THEN, I realize that Scott’s birthday is coming this week.

Simeon is TWO YEARS OLD!

My little one is now two years old.  It's unbelievable in many ways.  He has 3 teeth coming in at one time and was a little testy early in the day, but come party time he was all fun.  Simeon woke me up this morning by crawling in the bed with me to snuggle.  He still likes to play with my hair when he's sleepy and he loves it when I hum to him.  His vocabulary is increasing, but only I understand most of it unless the context is really clear.  Eliya speaks for him a good amount and of course he wants to do / say anything she does / says.  They really are great little buddies and there is nothing sweeter than seeing their voluntary affection for one another.  Eliya fell down today and he ran to her and gave her a hug. Children are such a blessing from the Lord!

Enjoy a few pictures from his big day!

Selling our Birthright for Soup?!

Several months ago I was very burdened for an old friend.  This friend was willfully walking in sin and claiming the grace and blood of the Lord Jesus.  I was literally thinking about and praying for this person almost daily and asking the Lord to expose truth and bring freedom. 

One day I took a nap and I woke up and knew I had been praying for this person.  I drifted back to sleep and woke up with the Lord saying this generation of the church is like Esau who sold his birthright to his brother for a bowl of soup.  I hadn't even thought about Jacob and Esau or this story in such a long time I had to look it up to find it.  Gen 25:29-34, Esau comes in from hunting and is famished and weary and Jacob has made stew.  When he asks for some, his brother said first sell me your birthright.  Esau says, if I'm about to die, then what good is my birthright to me and agrees to give his blessing, inheritance and leadership of the family over for bread and soup.  The Lord tied this dream to my one friend who represents the MANY in the church who wilfully make the exception of sin (the passing pleasure) in their lives and believe that there is no contradiction in that and in following the Lord.

Pt. 2; A touch in the night

In the previous blog I talked about how the Lord spoke to me about our altered view of reality in the church (myself included!) and how we "go through the motions" without even perceiving that we aren't in touch with reality.  Directly after that experience of waking up three times, I laid back in the bed and turned on the ipod to listen to worship music while I went back to sleep.  I haven't done this in a LONG time.  I began to remember that the months after Scott passed away, I fell asleep EVERY night to these same songs.  In my heart I began to really worship through remembering the goodness, faithfulness and tenderness of the Lord in my life.  Suddenly, I was aware of the intense presence of the Lord.

How long have we been asleep?

I had an interesting experience Sunday night. It will likely take a few posts to share all of what happened but for now, I will share just part of it.

Sunday night I woke up in the middle of the night and really needed to use the restroom. I sat up in the bed, but was having trouble getting my eyes to actually open. I rubbed them a few times and realized how groggy I really was and how my vision was even not cooperating. I actually physically pryed one eye open trying to get myself to wake up more.

Then, I opened my eyes to find that I was still laying down had JUST now actually woken up. I lay there for a minute realizing that the whole first "waking up" was a dream and hadn't really happened. I lay there trying to will myself into action...because I really did have to go to the bathroom. I sat up and tried willing myself to get out of the bed. Unbelievably, I opened my eyes AGAIN to find that I was REALLY just NOW waking up. I had twice now believed myself to be awake and was in fact NOT awake.

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He Delights in ME!

I want to share one part of what the Lord did and spoke over me at the OneThing conference this past week. Let me start by saying, I don't share this because I particularly like having the deepest places of my heart visible for anyone to see. I lay my heart bare in hopes that it will lead others to the place of heart encounter with this amazing God who completely knows us and longs to give us understanding of how He feels towards us; not just a cognitive intellectual head knowledge, but an experiential heart knowledge that changes completely how we pursue this Lover of our souls.