I'm Glad

Why am I glad?

You would be too if:

-you realized that God loves you so much He is never going to leave you alone

(even when you mess up an astronomical number of times!)

-you recognized that a truly sincere love does not hesitate to throw you into the fire - because, that is the only way that you can be purified

-you discovered that when you empty yourself of {you} and ask God to fill your spirit, soul, and body with {Him}, that is when you find true fulfillment and satisfaction

-you were just so delightfully overwhelmed by the greatness and goodness of your God, because the fact slaps you in the face every day that you.are.no.good. and how could a just God love you?

Because He is also a mercifully loving God. <3

These are a couple of the thoughts that have been swirling around in my rather chaotic brain at the moment.

I have by no means achieved an A+ on any of the aforementioned.

Being a slight perfectionist - ;) - , I confess I find the fact incredibly disheartening.

Why can't I perfectly pass all the tests and exams that are served to me in the classroom of my life?

Then the thought comes to me ...

If I could perfectly pass them all, where would the need for a Teacher be?

Praise the Lord that I need Him every hour!

The Apostle Paul nails it,

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

God has given me some crazy-awesome opportunities this month, let alone the entire year! I am excited to see Him work...

and I am glad.

Ta-ta,

Phia

Post Script - I realized there are no pictures in this post!

{photo credit: Evangeline Renee}

I know right, what better picture could you ask for!

That picture is practically 2 1/2 months old now...I'll try to get an updated one on here soon. =)

In Celebrations

I do apologize for being unable to post last week ... I was else where, and had no access to the internet. I shall tell you more about that in my next post, but for now, I crave your patience, because this is for another special someone

...

Erik!

My Little {big} Brother just turned 15, Friday last ... I mean seriously, he's half way to 30!

Just as I tell Andrew that there are not two years between myself and he (rather, 21 months ;), so I am reminded that I have only 23 months on Erik. ;P

Remember how I was telling you about Heidi and her name meaning?

Well, the same goes for:

Erik ~ Honorable Ruler

Whitmore ~ Skillful with the Sword

Oddly enough, he was always the one we naturally gave the part of the king or {ruler} to in all of our "productions". And it is my prayer that he will continue to be a skillful wielder of the most powerful Sword that exists - God's Word. <3

It was constantly one of the most perplexing questions, in my mind, as to why all of our babysitters and friends would tell me that my little brother was the "cutest thing!" ... I remember pondering the statement, looking at my *ahem* enthusiastically energetic little brother (with that incorrigibly cheeky grin plastered on his face), and then wondering to myself, "Am I missing something here??"

It has been an adventure ... it wasn't until I spent two months away from home one Summer, that it struck me how much I missed my Little Brother (it didn't make matters better when his voice changed and he had his growth spurt while I was gone =P). Suddenly, I saw a whole new side of him: all of his sweet little habits, and his eagerness to be helpful.

(Both he and Andrew were on some sort of black pepper kick that year, and since I was missing my brothers so desperately, I would put pepper on all my food. =} )

I'm going to say it.

My Little Brother is the "cutest thing!" ;)

{photo credit: Michaela }

Erik has always had an immensely fun-loving nature =)

Pay no attention to the individuals behind the, um, photoshop? But, rather, notice that I was the same height as my younger brother

...

four years later, there is a good 6in. distance (at least) between us. =}

(this was the Summer I stayed for two months with my Grandparents)

It took just a little bit more time for him, but true to the Fredrickson spirit, he discovered his love for recreational pursuits and is a worthy opponent. =)

We're quite certain that his Spiritual Gift is Serving =)

{photo credit: Michaela }

He has such an eye for detail and spends many an afternoon with his sketch pad, creating intricate floor plans and inspiring architectural structures. He has also designed his own calligraphy script. We enjoy reading books and discussing them and going on walks together. =)

Since I was in between two boys, and did not have a sister my age, he was such a sweet Little Brother and would humor me by playing house and paper people with me. =}

This was right before walking to the library one delightful day! =)

Happy Birthday Erik, I love you!

Ta-ta,

Phia

Life is Fleeting~

And the question arises: "Just how is it that we find ourselves already in the first week of October?"

It is positively astounding that there is a mere two months, and 26 days remaining in this year of 2011.

*dink-dink*

I have found this verse appearing quite frequently in my ponderings of this past week,

"Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

~ James 4:14

Life is fleeting ... like those vintage cars that wouldn't stay still on the highway when I was trying to take their picture ...

... and those strawberries that were right there before my eyes ...

(then like *that* they ... weren't there ;)

... and those tiny girls you used to babysit; then five years later ...

... they have graduated from 'tiny girls' to 'little girls', just overnight it seems.

(but really, we know that it was five years, only it didn't feel that long)

So, why is it that we feel the need to hold on to and have more 'stuff'? It might not even last a year, let alone eternity ...

(this is something that I must continually remind myself of)

{mental note: there is a difference between need and want}

But, what will last?

The time, love, energy, and resources that you pour into someone else's life, out of your own, because Jesus has filled you with that much joy and desire to bring glory to His Kingdom!

I have the gift of showing Jesus' love to these little ones ...

How many times have I missed out on the blessings that God wants to bestow upon me, simply because my priorities are not what they should be? Again, being predominantly an S, changes in sheduals {schedules} are not always met with ... smiles? So, while I didn't do things that I normally would have done on a Saturday morning, instead, I had the privilege to witness the baptism of a dear friend and sister-in-the-Lord. It was a joy to be there, H. <3

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

~Proverbs 27:17

We spent the time together singing praises to our Lord, and engaging in uplifting and stimulating conversation. =) What a blessing I would have passed over if I would have listened to the whispers of the Enemy, trying to keep me in my little box of routine and shedual-ness.

{I hadn't seen this dear girl since 2009! R, it was so much fun. =)}

This little man will not stay little for too long ... hmm, I do believe I shall take every opportunity, that I can, to hold him while he'll still let me. =)

She's 11 already!

(why isn't there an emoticon for pulling one's hair out, because of sheer astonished-ness?)

Life is fleeting ...

what things are eternally worth your time?

Ta-ta,

Phia