a little family business

I want to take some time to include some family (and friends) updates.

Trevor is an incredibly diligent student. I would brag on him by giving specifics, but I think he would want me just to leave it at that. That is more meant to be encouragement for him than bragging. Whoever will read this post, please take a moment to pray for him-- that he would know the love of Jesus more and more during this time, rely on His strength, and be refreshed by grace. The Lord has been moving in our family in some serious ways during our season of hard work. He is teaching us about resting in Him, and the way the gospel brings life and healing in the minutiae (or what we think are minutiae) of our lives.

I am loving my time at home. Really, that is an understatement. I am so deeply moved that God has given me this opportunity to encourage, support, and help Trevor, care for sweet Piper, grow in His grace, and cultivate the gifts God has given. I am thankful that my husband wants this for me. I started an etsy shop. Though there is currently only one item for sale, keep checking back, because I have big plans for it.

www.lightnest.etsy.com

Piper is such a beautiful little person! Just a quick note about her disposition-- she is a little one who loves to smile and laugh. I know I have said that before, but it is so true. She is constantly giving me this big, nose-wrinkling smile with a baby laugh for reasons only she knows. She turned five months old on the twenty-ninth.

My sister is also the proud owner of an etsy shop, as well as a shop linked through her blog. Both are doing quite well-- she has already had a few sales on her new etsy shop! She sews high-quality children's clothing and accessories. Here is the link to her etsy shop: www.shoptwolittlemonkeys.etsy.com . Here is where you can check out her blog shop: www.twomonkeysdesigns.blogspot.com .

My friend Christen has also recently launched an etsy shop. She rescues old furniture and refinishes it with hand-painted artwork. Congrats, Christen, on your first sale! See her etsy shop here: www.christenelaine.etsy.com

Please pray for my mom; she has been hit hard with the flu (possibly H1N1). Pray that she would be strengthened in her inner woman despite her illness.

The Hambeltons are coming to visit us in December as soon as Trevor's classes end! We are thrilled that they were able to get travel plans arranged. We love you Bryce, Emily, and Piper! Our family is also excited about our upcoming trip to Chicago (around New Year's Day) to reunite with the Lacine and Cunningham families. God has used these two families so much in our lives. We are so eager to see them :)

I will post some more thoughts soon on being made in God's image, a Francis Schaeffer book I am reading, and some things we are learning from our new church family.

We love you, our family and friends.

A doxology in itself

"The arts and sciences do have a place in the Christian life--

they are not peripheral. For a Christian, redeemed by the work of

Christ and living within the norms of Scripture and

under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the

Lordship of Christ should include an interest in the arts.

A Christian should use these arts to

the glory of God--

not just as tracts, but as things of beauty

to the praise of God. And art can be a doxology in itself."

-Francis Schaeffer

One of the most precious things the Lord has been teaching me about is the significance of being made in His image. For me, as a woman, this means there are things about my fundamental makeup that reflect who God is; even though I am marred by sin in every aspect of my being, I still bear His image. I am a person who loves to create and behold beauty. I love to sew, I love to listen to and play music, and I love to organize and decorate my home. I love being a homemaker and a stay at home momma because I can grow in these gifts. This aspect of being a woman exists because we, as women, are created to respond to beauty. I am made this way because He is the ultimate source of beauty-- He defines beauty, He is the reason we have this concept at all. He created me to respond to who He is! Thus in my creativity, I get to be like Him (as a Creator) and I also have the opportunity to, in some small way, reflect the awesome truth that beauty exists because of Him.

But there is another side to the beauty that we behold with our eyes here on earth. Art can be damaged, decomposed, or lost. Fabrics wear out. Instruments can break. Love for beauty becomes covetousness. Our energies are limited and our talents imperfect. Beauty is twisted into a perversion of what it is meant to represent. Our souls can only be satisfied in their Creator! Augustine wrote, "Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee." All of this decaying beauty is only valuable in that it demonstrates that there is One who never changes, who never fades-- Jesus Christ, the great unchangeable I AM. He is the Beautiful One. I can rejoice and rest in this because His beauty heals my ugliness; He has lived the righteous life, beautiful in God's sight, in my place. Instead of my filthy rags, because of Him, I have blood-washed, sparkling white linen. And I will one day see Him as He is, in all His glory.

"So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you

in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me."

-Psalm 63:2-8

This picture is of a corner of my living room (who knew we would ever have a living room? Crazy.) Trevor and I found this piano at the J&J flea market this summer for only $80. God gave this piano to us! I have been a pianist for over twenty years, but it wasn't until my redemption that I had a desire to play like I do now. This piano has been a tool for me to worship the Lord and thirst for His beauty. Trevor and I are so thankful for God's loving provision in our lives... He certainly didn't have to give us this, but He did because He delights in us.

I would love to hear any thoughts you readers may have on this subject.

-paige