In Sickness and In Health

I've been pretty much down and out for the past two weeks. My throat's been highly inflamed to a point where I can't eat or sleep without being on a 3 hour cycle of Motrin and Tylenol. And even then the pain is still noticeable! It's been crazy. I've had two situations in the past that share similarities with this situation, and at the time it seemed like I was having an allergic reaction to mold in the place I was living. But we see no visible mold in our house, in the attic, or the basement. I had a strep test done by an urgent care doctor last week and it was negative. I waited a few more days and started searching for a primary care physician. I saw one today. She was not so sure that it's an allergic reaction because it's very localized and extreme, but thinks it has some kind of viral component. For whatever reason, my immune system is down and I need to get it back up. What I took away most from our time together (other than a prescription for much-needed steroids and prescription nasal spray) was that she said I needed to "pamper myself". I'm thinking she was interpreting that as getting lots of rest, fluids, and Vitamin C, but I'll let my husband interpret that any way he wants. ;) Now that I mention it, Jon has been a rock star husband. Letting me sleep in, cooking breakfast, doing whatever it is that I couldn't get done during the day (which was a lot), staying up late with me watching silly BBC series while we wait for whatever dose of Tylenol or Motrin I had taken to kick in before bed, etc. I was a little bummed when the Target Pharmacist told me I arrived too close to their lunch break to walk out with my medicine in hand, but Bram and I are heading there whenever afternoon nap ends. I think these steroids will do the trick for the moment while we gather more information and take a little time to see what might be going on. Here's a picture of Bram and I this morning. Obviously, I'm being candid here - you can totally tell I've been sick for two weeks. But my lack of energy obviously hasn't affected Bram - he's as happy as can be and I'm glad!

Bless the LORD, O my soul

I am not too technologically savvy, and I have not yet figured out how (or even tried) to put songs from iTunes on my computer on my iPhone. So, I have just 5 songs on my iPhone that were purchased on my phone. I discovered a few months ago that if I'm trying to get dishes or cooking done in the kitchen but Bram is being clingy (which may be always), that if I play those 5 songs on my iPhone as I cook/clean, he will happily and peacefully amuse himself in the kitchen as we listen to the music together. I'm kind of sick of those 5 songs, but pretty much every day we listen to them at least once through because - it works! Well a few days ago, I noticed when the song 10,000 Reasons came on my phone, that Abram started singing along. He says "hoey 'ame" when Matt Redman sings "worship His Holy Name". He also croons a little bit at the "O my soul" parts. It's adorable. So this caused me to pause and think about this now-very-familiar song again, and I decided, I love it.

Matt Redman seems to draw from King David's own musings recorded in Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to his children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has establishes his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

The call of David for his own soul to bless the LORD seems be founded in David's belief of God's righteous character, His eternality, His authority and Kingship, and His mercy toward the people of Israel. What great reasons to praise God, and like Matt Redman, I could and should go on to list many thousand reasons for my heart to praise Him. One interesting thing about this Psalm though - it's all about Jesus. He fulfilled those verses David wrote about God's merciful works, that "He does not deal with us according to our sins" and "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us". Under the Old Testament law, sin could not be entirely dealt with. Every day Jews had reason to go make sacrifices, culminating on the one day each year, the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would make a special sacrifice to cover any forgotten sins or unknown sins of the Jewish people. Of these sacrifices the writer of Hebrews says, "For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:13-14). The Jewish sacrifices outlined in the Old Testament could make a man ceremonially clean, that is purify his body so that he could serve and worship in the Temple, but those sacrifices were not enough to "purify our conscience from dead works". God finally and fully accomplished His greatest and most merciful work of the Christian's salvation, when Christ died on the cross, absorbing the wrath of God for all the sins of all those who would believe in Him. Thus, making true David's words here about how He does not deal with the believer in Christ according to his sins, because Christ took the punishment on Himself on the cross. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Cherry Blossom Picture

Recently we had some pictures taken near the Tidal Basin in DC during peak bloom of the famous Cherry Blossom trees. It was our first time to see the Cherry Blossoms and they were spectacular. I can't believe the photographer caught a great Bram smile...he was stoic almost the entire shoot unless Jon was bouncing him. It's kind of amazing that we all look 'natural'. Anyway, I love it! And you can see the trees faintly in the background.

Coconut Oil

This picture may not excite you, but seeing these babies arrive on my doorstep today made my heart pitter patter. Maybe that's a tad exaggerated. But I got a great deal on every one of these 108 ounces of an oil I literally use every day: usually when I'm sautéing or baking, but I also put it in our toothpaste. 

If you are curious why coconut oil is good for you read this blog post: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/coconut-oil-why-it-is-good-for-you-and-where-to-buy-it

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Balsamic Chicken in the Crock Pot

This recipe came from my previous church's cookbook. We tried it this week and liked it. I'm always up for trying a good slow cooker meal! It's sometimes hard to find a Crock Pot recipe that fits my "real food" requirements. Basically, one without some kind of "cream of whatever soup", because it's hard to find a real food substitute for that. So I'm happy to add another good recipe to that list.

Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients
4-6 chicken breasts, about 2 lbs
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 T tomato paste (I'll admit I didn't measure, just threw in a small can's worth)
1 onion, sliced
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (add a little sugar/sucanat if too strong)
1 T olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
whole wheat pasta

Add oil to bottom of slow cooker. Cut chicken breasts into portion sized pieces and salt and pepper to taste and add to bottom of slow cooker.. Layer onion, all herbs, and vinegar (sprinkle with sugar if using). Mix tomatoes with tomato paste and pour on top. Cook on high for 4 hours or until very tender. Serve over pasta.

And Can It Be

In my head today.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all, th'Immortal dies:
Who can explore this strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free!
For, O my God it found out me.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free!
For, O my God it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread,
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown through Christ my own.

Words, words,words!

Below are two pics from Resurrection Sunday. Of course I forgot to snap a pic before almost bedtime and so Bram is melting down in the pics. He really wanted to take his vest off!

In other news, our boy is adding on to his vocabulary daily! For my memory's sake, I made a quick list of words he can say and identify with the right object. This isn't counting words he will just repeat but doesn't know what they mean (he does that a lot too...he's quite a chatterbox!). Most all of these words he will spontaneously say when he sees the object or is doing the action. It's amazing to watch (listen?) to a human being develop language skills. I feel like this is an aspect of humanity that shows we are created in God's image. After all, we have a communicating God who chose to reveal Himself primarily in Jesus, the Word made flesh, and also in the written word. He spoke creation into existence. He holds up the universe by the word of his power (Heb 1:3). We are taking great delight in watching our son reflect the amazing complexity of our God by learning to speak. 

Play

Okay

Boy

Please

Peas

Broccoli

Soccer ball

Basketball

Baseball

Book

Ding dong!

Bear

Mouse

Turtle

Elmo

Diaper

Potty

Hoop

Score

Dribble

Basket

Back pack

Peek a boo

Hug

Trash

Yucky

Yummy

All done

All gone

Hungry

Night night

Beans

Banana

Pear

Apple

Cheese

Orange

Green

Door

Car

Truck

Choo choo

Abram

Mama

Dada

Up

Down

Chair

Owl

Pooh (as in Pooh Bear)

Twinkle (his word for "star")

Shoes

Socks

Bath

More

Baby

Doggy

Circle

Triangle (try-kle)

Square

Bus

People

Bird

Try

Blocks

Box

Butterfly (buh-bee)

Share

Jesus

Fuzzy

Monkey

Hat

Gecko

Chicken
Nut
Cashew
Popcorn
Tree
Jacket
Hot
Bible
Bubble
Amen
Teeth
Hi
Bye
Happy
Story
Giraffe
Keys
Uh oh
Oh no!
Toy
Bread
Goal
Church
Coffee
Puzzle
Hammer
Saw

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