Toddlers for Sale- Two for the price of one!

Happy Friday!  Amen?  Amen!
It's been a bit since I've updated on the happenings of Goodview Court.  My obsession with Job has not yet subsided, but it has to level out at some point- I mean there's a lot more Bible to learn from right?  While I figure out where the Lord's arm reaches out next (hint hint... Isaiah), I'll fill you in on what's going on with the Helmer family.

Charles just turned five. Yikes.  As if that didn't make us feel old enough, this last week was the 10 year anniversary of our meeting/dating/falling madly in love.  To celebrate twin-parent style, we had a date night in.  We listened to music from 2005, and watched a movie that came out the summer of 2005.  The change in fashion and even quality of cinema brought us face to face with just how long 10 years is- no matter how fast it goes.  Also, we started a small fire on our dining table at 0900 hours. No thanks to my pathetic sloth-like reaction, the flames were eventually contained and nothing was lost in the fire.  Point goes to Andy and his cat-like reflexes.

So...the twins have officially become, difficult.  From day one of learning we would have twins all we heard about was how hard it would be.  When the twins were born early, we weren't sure what our version of normal would be if they survived, so we were in the 'do whatever it takes to get by' mode for the first several months.  Once the boys were settled at home we slid into a safe, careful routine with monitors and never taking them out of the house.  When the boys became mobile and playful, my parents got us the infamous 'kennel' and containment saved our butts for another few months.  Throughout these stages, aside from the frightening difficulties of the first few months, I think both Andy and I would've told people that twins really weren't as taxing as we were expecting.  God let us get good and comfortable with our parenting skills, and then He graciously allowed Luke and Sawyer to turn 18 months old.  Just like that, everything changed. 

Meet 18 month old Lucas Andrew.  Luke is delightfully chubby and drools unendingly.  His soaking wet shirt rarely covers the bottom of his belly- but as he was born at 2 pounds, we see no issue with calling that impressive.  Luke has never chewed a bite of food in his life and his fecal matter only comes out in one size- gargantuan.  Luke has the very bluest eyes that you've ever seen, and he enjoys the outdoors with a baseball cap full of cheerios, but only from the center of a perfectly spread out blanket on the grass.  He sees no logic in leaving the safety and comfort of his blanket.  He has as much fun eating cheerios out of a hat as Sawyer does rolling down a grass hill in his diaper and running through a sprinkler.
With every cell in his wet, chubby little body Luke despises grass, but he's slowly coming around one 'reach in the grass to get a cheerio that flung off the blanket' at a time.  We take a lot of walks with the jogging stroller, and without fail Sawyer will sit up on the edge of the seat and look at the world passing by---not Luke.  Luke will slowly sink lower and lower in his seatbelt until only his head and neck are on the seat of the stroller and the rest of him is sprawled awkwardly on the floor of it- all because he's too lazy to scoot himself up a little when he starts to slip.  He'll just dangle with a completely straight face until the walk is over.  People worry when they pass us and see him lying in the stroller like he's high on the reefer.  Luke is a snuggler and is perfectly content in anyone's arms, but finds himself rather ticked off if you try and blow a gum bubble in his vicinity.  He concerns himself often with the goings-on of his twin brother Saywer.  Luke doesn't care for sharing toys, but he'll put a wet cheerio in your mouth anytime you're close enough for him to jab one in.  His favorite new chore is to speed-waddle the rolled up wet diapers to the garbage and then clap for himself when he tosses them in.  Luke is forever his daddy's boy, and his hands go right in his mouth to stifle an involuntary giggle every time Andy comes in the door or around the corner.  It's precious.  Luke is still working through when to emotionally react to something.  Timing is tough for him.  Anytime Sawyer is being reprimanded, Luke tends to take it personally and still completely breaks down when Sawyer is being put in timeout.  We still have to console and remind him he's not in trouble this time and he doesn't have to cry on Sawyer's behalf.  Meanwhile, Sawyer stares through our souls and plans his next disobedient act the entire time he's being scolded and disciplined.  No tears necessary with a sympathetic twin like Luke.  Once in a while when Luke is eating, we swear he remembers something sad from earlier in the day and he'll go from just fine and dandy to alligator tears for no reason, sad quivering lip and all.  Luke is a joy, and if he were on his own life would be way too easy...that would be why God gave us a little Baby B.

Meet 18 month old Sawyer Rodney.  Sawyer is straight muscle and scar- not an ounce of chub anywhere on his little self.  His long hair flies all over the place as he bounces around the house and his brown eyes are piercing.  Sawyer's favorite words are 'diaper' and 'touch,' and 'Bo.'  I'm convinced Sawyer can run at least 28 miles an hour and there's nothing he can't climb.  His perfect afternoon would be to sit in one of his toy-boxes and throw miniature tractors at everyone that walked by.  Sawyer isn't  your typical naughty toddler in the sense of throwing a tantrum or having an attitude- but Sawyer is naughty.  He gets into everything he shouldn't, he can take apart a dust buster in 8 seconds flat, and he listens and obeys selectively at best.  We've recently been introduced to an unsolvable problem- Sawyer can climb out of his crib AND open his bedroom door.  This wouldn't be too big an issue if Soy was closer to 2- but an 18 month old Sawyer with selective hearing and obeying at best is nowhere near ready for a toddler bed.  Sawyer is not very good at obeying and it appears he has a very short memory along with a giant lack of interest in being disciplined.  We have the stairs gated off, but other than that he has access to far too many dangers to let him roam around.  If we try and keep him in the crib however, he'll keep climbing out and it's a four foot fall to hard wood floor below.  Sleep is already difficult to come by, but not knowing where Sawyer is keeps me crouched down Gollum-style peeking through the cracked open door in my nighty at all hours, and I'm starting to go crazy with this paranoia.  If anyone has a solution to our unsolvable problem, don't hold out.  This is a cry for help. 

Charlie is, as always, an amazing big brother and helper.  He tells us when the boys prematurely get up from timeout, and scolds them when they grab the remotes.  I heard him tell Sawyer once that Jesus loves Luke more because Luke doesn't throw his cheerios on the floor.  We're always working on spiritual encouragement on Goodview Ct.  We had him answer a set of 50 questions on his 5th Birthday and recorded his answers.  The questions ranged from, "What makes you laugh" and "Who is in heaven" to "What kind of superpower would you want."  When asked what his favorite number was, his answer was 86505050.  Seems cute, but that actually is his favorite number.   He writes it on everything, including his bedroom wall, and he sings it around the house to the tune of his favorite song, Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again."

By the grace of God, all of the children God has put us in charge of are alive and well- and though our sanity is barely hanging by a thread we continue to lean on His strength.  At our busiest moments, and when we're missing our previous life with its freedoms and fun, we glance back to November 13th 2013 and can't help but be thankful for God's grace in the lives of our little preemies.  I'll try and update again soon, thanks for reading you lovely little readers you!  Sooooooooo tired.

The God of Job

Well mawnin' yall! 
Like my new hummingbird template? 
I know I do. 
My best childhood friend and I once caught/trapped a hummingbird at the cabin, which is risky business I might add.  I can't remember what we did with it, but I've always recalled feeling proud about that moment---so I'm comfortable assuming we miraculously saved its little life and set it free.  Sigh.  Such sweet passive aggressive Baptist babies we were. 


Speaking of Baptist babies, my brother and I were conversing via mobile phone from different parts of the great United States early this week, and he mentioned making a gift for a friend with a printed verse on it.  I asked him what verse-- I'm nosy.  He shared with me a passage that I've read and learned and heard my whole life- and it's in the book of Job.  God moved in me when Jake reminded me of the story and I've read and studied and listened to Job for days straight now.  Let's go ahead and call it obsession--I'm deeply obsessed with Job's story, and more than that I'm obsessed with Job's conversation with the very same God I talk to today.  If you don't mind, I'd like to bring you along to join in my obsession for a few minutes, and it begins with a question I have for you- What if all of the sudden you became painfully aware that God has seen every little thing you've been up to for your whole life?  I mean, I know we're aware that He's been there, but do you ever really think about the fact that He's not simply checking his voicemails for need-to-know details on the highlights of your day?  He's not just interested in the big or important stuff?  Have you contemplated the weight of the reality that He knows the motivations behind every decision you make, not just the action itself?  Okay, now go a step further---He not only knows why and what you're up to every second of every day, but he cares too.  God is many things, but indifferent is never one of them.  Maybe you have no trouble at all fully grasping this concept, maybe that's always your perspective, maybe it's Maybelline.
If I'm being honest, it's rarely mine.  In fact, I find myself 'accidentally ignoring' God's interest in my choices a lot like I 'accidentally ignore' my bank account after a Kohls spree. 
Hmm?  What was that Andy?  Oh they were having a sale...and I'll probably return most of it anyway, I'll check it out tomorrow.  Mmmmk? Mmmmk.
God sees it all, and He cares about it all.

OOFTA, as my grandpa Jerry would say.

Alright, so now back to the beginning- you suddenly become painfully aware of God's constant presence and His captivating interest in your thoughts, decisions, and actions.  And then..... God SPEAKS.  With a voice you've never heard but always known, He speaks.  God says to you that He has some questions for you, and He'd like for you to answer.
At that point, if I could even speak at all, it would undoubtedly be a very soft, very mumbled version of....... "I'd rather not, Lord."

Enter Job.

Job was a truly blessed man.  He had 7 sons, 3 beautiful daughters, a lot of farm animals (which back then was a direct reflection of wealth and status), and he was one of a few men that would present Himself to God blameless and faithful. 

Enter Satan. 
 
Satan tries to tell God that Job is only faithful because he's blessed.  God allows Satan to take away Job's blessings as long as he doesn't harm Job's body in order to test his faithfulness.  Satan strikes Job's children, his land, his home, his animals and storehouses.  Talk about a test!  Job does not curse God and remains true.  Satan then tries to tell God that Job is only faithful because his body has been spared, and that if Satan were allowed to harm him physically without killing him, then Job would curse God.  God allowed it.

Satan covers Job in painful boils from his head to feet, and tortures him.  Job calls for counsel from a few older wise friends.  Job's friends didn't help.  Job's wife asks why he doesn't just give up and curse God.  Job still doesn't turn his back on God, but as I would be, he starts to get a wee bit mopey.

I had my tonsils out last year, and  I remember begging for the immediate return of Christ so I would never have to swallow again.  I couldn't actually talk, but I somehow managed to let out a steady melody of moans and whimpers.  Job lost all he had lived for and then was covered in boils.  Ouch.

Job begins to question God.  He asks why he ever chose to live for God his whole life if torture was all he was to be given in return.  He asks God why he was ever even born!  I bet Satan was just giddy watching Job go all George Bailey on God.  Job chapters 29-31 outline a speech of defense and confusion from Job that could easily be read by Jack Nicholson in a courtroom scene.  If that was where the story ended, most of us would probably call Job's argument valid and agree with him.

Enter Elihu- a godly friend of Job's who is younger and bites his tongue while the older 'wiser' friends do pretty much nothing.  I will talk about Elihu in another post because he's just plain awesome.  Elihu rebukes Job's attitude and isn't afraid to do it.  Elihu spoke with wisdom beyond his years and was dead on.

Enter GOD.  Lord Almighty.  Creator.  Jehovah.  Elohim. 

I'll let Him speak.  

The Lord Answers Job- Chapter 38

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

² “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
³ Dress for action^[a] like a man;
    I will question you, and you make it known to me.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
⁵ Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
⁶ On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone,
⁷ when the morning stars sang together
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸ “Or who shut in the sea with doors
    when it burst out from the womb,
⁹ when I made clouds its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling band,
¹⁰ and prescribed limits for it
    and set bars and doors,
¹¹ and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
    and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

¹² “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
    and caused the dawn to know its place,
¹³ that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
    and the wicked be shaken out of it?
¹⁴ It is changed like clay under the seal,
    and its features stand out like a garment.
¹⁵ From the wicked their light is withheld,
    and their uplifted arm is broken.

¹⁶ “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
    or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
¹⁸ Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
    Declare, if you know all this.

¹⁹ “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
    and where is the place of darkness,
²⁰ that you may take it to its territory
    and that you may discern the paths to its home?
²¹ You know, for you were born then,
    and the number of your days is great!

²² “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
    or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
²³ which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
    for the day of battle and war?
²⁴ What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
    or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?

²⁵ “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
    and a way for the thunderbolt,
²⁶ to bring rain on a land where no man is,
    on the desert in which there is no man,
²⁷ to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
    and to make the ground sprout with grass?

²⁸ “Has the rain a father,
    or who has begotten the drops of dew?
²⁹ From whose womb did the ice come forth,
    and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?
³⁰ The waters become hard like stone,
    and the face of the deep is frozen.

³¹ “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades
    or loose the cords of Orion?
³² Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth^[b] in their season,
    or can you guide the Bear with its children?
³³ Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
    Can you establish their rule on the earth?

³⁴ “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
    that a flood of waters may cover you?
³⁵ Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
    and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the inward parts^[c]
    or given understanding to the mind?^[d]
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
    Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
³⁸ when the dust runs into a mass
    and the clods stick fast together?

³⁹ “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
    or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
⁴⁰ when they crouch in their dens
    or lie in wait in their thicket?
⁴¹ Who provides for the raven its prey,
    when its young ones cry to God for help,
    and wander about for lack of food?....................

 

The Lord goes on and asks Job 147 questions (if I'm wrong on that I'm quoting my Bible College student brother).  He explains that not only does He set everything in motion, but He also commands its continuance.  He cares about where lightning strikes (this doesn't mean we shouldn't be weather alert:). He cares about where ravens get food for their young.  Job's suffering wasn't only allowed, but it was intentional-and not just for Job and his wife and friends.  My study Bible says the author the book of Job is unknown, as well as the  time it was written.  There are no historical references or landmarks in the language or dialect to give us any type of idea or way to put the story into chronological context.  Now this is just what I believe, but I think God wanted us to have a clear story, a clear depiction of an untainted eternal message outside of timelines and history- God is God.  Everything He does is intentional and planned for His glory and our well being.  Even the trials He allows in our lives are completely motivated by his complete and incomprehensible love. 

 

 

 

God pauses after chapters of majestic reminders outlining His unquestionable greatness, and Job speaks. 

 

42 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

² “I know that you can do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
³ ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
⁴ ‘Hear, and I will speak;
    I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
⁵ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself,
    and repent^[a] in dust and ashes.”

 

Look around!  Everything we are and are given was created by and managed by the same God that loved us enough to give us another chance at perfection with HIM.  He tells the waves where to stop, He has seen the end of the world, He knows what's coming.  If He is big enough create, know, and care about all that, can't we have enough faith to believe that nothing in our lives is an accident? 

 

Here's my challenge to you-  It's easy to become far too comfortable and casual with the God of Job.  But He's our God too- and we  never want to forget how big He is. 
You've heard Him. 
You've learned about Him. 
Have you seen Him?
Have your eyes beheld the truth of who God is?  Study Him, know Him, love Him, SEE Him.