Since today is the last day of October I thought it was high time for another update.
First of all Jason's back is steadily improving. He is able to do all his regular duties except lift heavy things. He feels little to no pain, but does feel like his back is stiff and tired in the evenings. After dinner every night he rests his back by laying down. While he 'rests' he helps Jayden with his daily thirty minutes of homework and then teaches him guitar lessons. I love listening to them play as the rain patters on the tin roof.
Yup, rainy season is in full swing. That means, no more water shortages for us, less dust, and somewhat cleaner air. It also means tons of mosquitoes and a glue like mud called 'labou' that sticks to your shoes wherever you go.
Jason's been busy with flying, like usual, and I love to look at the pictures on his phone when he comes home from work. Here are some of his latest.
The kids are growing up fast! Jayden is enjoying school and learning a lot. At home he loves to use his imagination to play all kinds of games.
This morning he was counting down the days till Grandpa hopes to come in Christmas time. Apparently it's 56 more days!
Justin our two and a half year old has been testing the boundaries lately. This has been quite exhausting and frustrating for me. God has directed me to several scriptures about the importance of disciplining my child. Those included Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. , Proverbs 13:24: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes., and Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
This has been really difficult for me, as although I was never against spanking, I always used it as a last resort. His whining, and refusal to obey has made spending every day with him a challenge however, so I've started to seriously implement these verses. It is amazing to see over the last few days how his attitude is changing. He is becoming much more respectful and very quick to obey. God has also comforted me with the words of Hebrews 12:11: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Alexander is growing like a weed! Just 4 short weeks ago he looked like this:
This morning I took this picture of him:
Two days ago I fed him his first baby cereal. He loved it and my eyes began to tear. After two children who I had to battle with at every meal time from 6 months to 2 years of age it was a delight to watch my third son simply open his tiny little mouth and enjoy his food.
Now that I've added cereal to his diet he is finally waking up less often at night. After feeding him between 3 to five times a night for the last 5 months it was wonderful to wake up refreshed instead of exhausted this morning with only one night time feeding!
Finally, Jason is just working on the finishing touches of our quarterly newsletter. It usually features a "Day in the Life of an MAF pilot" story. If you're interested in receiving it by email or snail mail let us know by emailing us at jwkrul@gmail.com.
I wanted to write about Canadian Thanksgiving and how it's been six years since I last saw fall. I wanted to look through my old pictures to find ones of colourful trees and foggy mornings. I thought about writing a list of things I was thankful for.
God directed me differently.
I never really liked my forehead. Not only was it big, it was shiny!
I remember as a kid my brothers and sisters would tease me about it sometimes. Teasing and joking was quite common in our household of ten kids!
I also remember several years ago applying for a passport. In Canada, the passport offices are very picky about your picture and they refused to accept my shiny forehead photos! Finally after going back to the photographer a third time for retakes she dragged me to the makeup counter and proceeded to powder the shine right off of my face!
Needless to say, I was intrigued when I read in Exodus 34:35 that …the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone:… Why did Moses have a shiny face? Digging deeper into the scripture I saw that it was because he spent time in the presence of God on Mount Sinai.
Later on I read another verse in the Psalms about being shiny. Psalm 34:5 says: They looked to him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed…
Then in Matthew 5:14-16 I read about shining as lights. It says: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
These verses made me stop and think. Maybe having a shiny forehead wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, I wanted to be a shiny person! A person that reflected my Father’s light as I spent time in His presence.
Jesus said in John 15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,…Gal 5:22.
There are a lot of sad things happening in the world so it’s important as believers that we shine. Are we ready to give an answer to every one that asks about the reason for the hope that is within us? 1 Peter 3:15 says: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Are we radiating love, joy and peace regardless of our circumstances because we are abiding in Christ and are hope is in Him?
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