Adventures in Our Home & Hearts: From Fighting Bad Guys to the Boys' Bedrooms

Giving God Glory
God works through all things! - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren... Romans 8:28-29 God works through all things! Good things... bad things... trying life circumstances... challenging relational dynamics... health trials... even our own sin... all things! The one that is the biggest mystery to me is how the Lord causes even our sin "to work together for good!" How does that work? This question definitely involves a multifaceted answer that I will not go into depth here about. This question also involves an answer that we will not fully understand and comprehend until heaven. Verse 29 does give one clear way - God works through our sin [to lead us to repentance] to conform us to be more like Christ. It is important to remember that there are still consequences for sin, and we should not sin in order for grace to increase (Romans 6:1-14). Obedience is how we love our Lord and always brings Him the most glory. However, since we all sin and only Christ lived perfectly (Hebrews 4:15), it is comforting to know that the Lord is a forgiving God (1 John 1:9) of grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16), who causes even our sin "to work together for good." This month we witnessed a beautiful life example of God causing all things to work together for good.

What's on the Harrisons' Hearts

AWANA - Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed

2 Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman

who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Wes & I are enjoying serving together in AWANA again this year. The Lord has given both of us hearts that love children and long to see the Lord save these precious ones. It is a great privilege to come alongside parents in hiding God's Word in their children's hearts (Psalm 119:11). Our prayer is that these children would not just memorize Scripture but would meditate on God's Word so that His Word impacts not just their "heads" but more importantly - their hearts! God promises that His Word will not return empty but will always accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 55:11). May the Lord work through His Word to draw these children to Himself in salvation, to grow their love for Christ,

to increase their delight in His truth, and to yield fruit in their lives for His glory!

Psalm 1

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

The past 2 years, Wes has served in T&T (3rd-6th grade) working with the boys, and I served in Cubbies. With Noah moving into Cubbies and with my desiring to serve with Wes, I am now serving in T&T with Wes (as well as several other leaders) and am working with the girls. This is definitely the age group that comes more natural for me, especially with my having experience teaching 3rd & 4th grade and also working with this age group at Kanakuk Kamp for 3 summers. As Wes and I work with these children in memorizing and meditating on Scripture, it challenges us to do the same!

To say Noah is excited to be a Cubbie is an understatement! He is beyond ecstatic! The past couple years, Noah has been in our church's nursery (which is wonderful and he was loved on and invested in by Mrs. Marta & Mrs. Janelle) during AWANAs. Noah longed to be "on that AWANA line" for opening ceremony with us, and he even joined Daddy on the T&T line before going to nursery several times at the end of last year. Noah became known as "the little guy in T&T." Well, now Noah is officially involved in AWANA, and he energetically puts on his Cubbie vest on Sunday evenings before AWANA, proudly stands on the Cubbies line for opening ceremony, and enjoys participating in Cubbies - which is fun to watch... but the best part is he LOVES to learn God's Word! He loves hiding God's Word in his heart! Noah really enjoys memorizing Scripture, reading Bible stories, singing songs about the gospel and Bible verses, going to sleep to his CD of these Scripture songs, and more. This is precious!!!... seeing the Lord growing his heart in love for Jesus, His Word, and worshipping God. We are grateful to be serving in a ministry that helps children learn and love God's Word, and we are very grateful to see how the Lord is using this ministry to grow our son's love for the Lord and His Word.

Noah hard at work in completing an activity in his Cubbie book - drawing people God created

Praises & Prayers
Mike & Tiffany - Celebrating their marriage! :)
Tami - Continued prayers for the Lord to give my dad and other loved ones His perspective and that God would heal Tami, but ultimately that His will would be done.

Our Family - Praise for the Lord growing our love for Christ and His Word.

Wes - Praise for being able to enjoy a lot of sweet time with the Lord since he does not have school work to complete. Prayer for James 1:5 for the Lord to give him wisdom with co-worker dynamics at work.

Christina - Praise that Jesus does not change - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever - Hebrews 13:8, which is a blessing to me during this season of constant changes with Josiah's routine continually changing as he grows. Continued prayer for the Lord to grow my love for Christ and others and to help me to have a servants heart (Philippians 2:3-7), especially for serving Wes, Noah, & Josiah.

Noah - God would graciously save him at a young age and lead him to walk with the Lord all of his days, if that be the Lord's will. Praise for Noah growing in having self-control. Prayer for Ezekiel 36:26-28 that the Lord would take away Noah's hard heart (that I see sometimes), give him a tender heart of flesh, and that the Holy Spirit would lead him to obey God.

Josiah - God would graciously save him at a young age and lead him to walk with the Lord all of his days, if that be the Lord's will. There continues to be no specific prayer requests, which is a big praise! The Lord blesses us with great joy through his sweet personality, huge light-up-his-whole-face smiles, and adorable laughter. Presently, our main prayer is for the Lord to draw Josiah to Himself in salvation (John 6:33).

Marriage Memories

Wes & I have been wanting to go dancing for a date night for a long time... ok... more so me than Wes.

Well, we couldn't pass up a dancing deal we saw on Living Social, so my time to get down with my Love had come. :)

We enjoyed participating in an East Coast Swing class, and this is what we looked like...

Ok... maybe not so much, but we probably had more laughs and bigger smiles on our faces than this couple. ;)

We had a great time and definitely made some fun memories.

We look forward to taking on a new form of dance on our next date night - salsa, tango, who knows?!

Family Fun

Fighting Bad Guys in the Basement

One of Daddy & Noah's favorite games is to fight bad guys in our basement. You'll notice that the stuffed animals are "shields" and the remote controllers are their "guns" to shoot the bad guys & monsters with. :)

Ready to show those bad guys who's boss * Fighting the bad guys & monsters * Having fun

Painting Josiah's Bedroom

Daddy is skilled at getting the trim lines * Mommy & Noah enjoy rolling

Noah is a great helper!

Josiah's Bedroom

Sports theme

Outside of Josiah's bedroom door

Crib * Twin bed to grow into

Rest of room

Noah's Bedroom

Transportation theme

Noah's room has been done since last year. We just did a few finishing decor touches.

Outside of Noah's bedroom door

There is a license plate map on the wall with CO license plate on left & WI license plate on right. Also, thank you to Auntie Gigi for making the curtain! * Close up of Noah's bed - his mattress is on the floor for safety reasons - he was doing head dives off of it & not learning his lesson

Thank you to Auntie Gigi for making the quilt! Also, thank you to Papa & Nana for the cute chair Christmas gift back in 2010 :) * Rest of room

White Fence Farm

Extended Family Birthday Dinner & Get Together with Jeana

We enjoyed our time together with Jeana & extended family!

Noah checking out the animals

Jeana, Me, & Josiah * Big smile for Jeana :)

Daddy & son

Playing in the Rain

Splashing * Silly boy with some sopping pants * Soaked Sierra

Daddy & Sons Fun

Hanging out

Daddy & Noah enjoying biking to various parks - thanks to a neighbor blessing us with this bike seat

Making some stovetop smores * "Cheesy" chocolate smile :)

Snuggling

Picking apples from our own apple tree - they're pretty good too! :)

Noah News

Age - 3 years

Weight - 31 1/2 lbs.

Cute Communication-
*"Dear God, please help me to have a good attitude. To honor God. To love God and to serve God. Amen." Precious...

*Soon after doing our bedtime routine with Noah and saying goodnight, Wes encountered a sentimental moment and wanted to go back in Noah's room and see him one more time. Wes gently opens the door and says, "Noah, what are you doing?" Noah responds, "I'm sleeping." - which he clearly wasn't since we just left his room and his eyes were wide open, but Noah sure thought so. ;)

Latest Loves
*Singing! AWANA song, Cubbies theme song, Cubbies "gospel song," I'm in the Lord's Army, "Day & night... God created day & night" (to tune of Deep & Wide)
*Learning the states (on his map decor in his bedroom) - he knows CO, WI, KS, MI, FA, NE, CA, OH, IN, AZ - taught by associating with connections with Wes, me, or loved ones
*Getting completely dressed all by himself - with an occasional inside out or backwards
*Riding his scooter
*Stuffed animals entourage

Sweet boy with a sweet smile

Noah's animal entourage - Showcasing Colby * From L to R: Frankie, Bob, Mater Truck, Sam, Smoochie, Charlie Brown, Larry, & Colby in front - they all have a story ;)

Noah's first "writing"

When I asked him what he wrote, he said - "I wrote 'Happy birthday Great Tache!" :)

Scooby bandaid * Little scar

Noah split his chin & it was borderline "ER & stitch-worthy."

Noah tripped on the stairs coming into our home from the garage after feeding Sierra.

Big "Thank you!" to our nurse neighbor, Kelly, who cleaned & steri stripped Noah's gash up.

*Video - Noah singing Cubbies "gospel song"

I'm a sinner, so are you. That's mean we'll die, oh boo hoo hoo.

But Jesus died in our place. That puts a smile back on our face.

A is for all... All have sinned. Romans 3:23

C is for Christ who died for us. Romans 5:8

(I only helped him with the last reference.)

Our little slugger * Video - Noah's big hit

Josiah Joys

Age - 3 months

Latest Loves
Laughing (11 weeks started)
Smiling at everyone! :)
"Talking to & laughing at the fish" in his bouncer
Sucking on his index finger
Lights & fans

Interesting Info
*Josiah's hair started thinning/falling out. We have been finding it on his crib sheet. :(
*He is now sleeping pretty consistently through "our night" - as in he sleeps until we usually we wake up or after. ex. 10 hour stretch from 7:30 pm to 5:30 am. This is a huge blessing! :)