A Blessed Easter

Easter is my absolutle favorite time of celebration. It is just the most thrilling thing to think of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ...for ME!!!
Our Easter Sunday started at 5:00a.m. as we got up and bundled up (it was like 17 degrees here in Maine) for our Sunrise Service. It was cold...but it is such a time of reflection and definitely starts my morning looking in the right direction. From the cemetery where we have the service we came home and hosted a quick but scrumptious breakfast of eggs, bacon, waffles and fruit. YUMMY!!!!!!! Out Easter worship service was a wonderful time of music and a wonderful message entitled "Salvation In Christ Alone".
Our day then continued at my parent's home where we spent the afternoon, kids playing, Chris fixing things (as usual), and the preparation of a incredible Easter meal. We had ham that was to die for, and cheesy potatoes (my sister's specialty...we missed her and Ben and Dan and Josh), and asparagus(yum), corn, sweet potatoes, and of course some rolls. It was one of the best meals I've had in a while...it was SO good!
Anyway, that was Easter with the Pomerleau's. I trust you all had a blessed one as well!

Thank You Jesus

I realize today, as I have reflected on the crucifixion of my Savior over 2000 years ago, that there is a part of me that wishes I could do something to 'make up' for what Jesus had to do for me. I mean, what a sobering thought that a perfect, sinless God-man loved ME...such a imperfect, sinful person....enough to be obedient unto the death of a cross. Yet, there is nothing I can do EVER to repay Him. I can only give back to him out of the overflow of gratefulness for all He did for me. More amazing still is that HE himself will give me the power to live in a way that pleases Him.
I pray that this burning desire to please Him because of the sacrifice He made for me is one that has been strengthened today and one that will burn greater, so that He may be glorified. I now realize I must pray that I am never seeking to repay Him,however...for who am I to think I could ever do anything that would be even the lowliest of payment. IT IS ALL OF HIM...HE LOVED ME...and all He desires is that I live out the gratefulness I have.
I praise God that on a day like this, a truth that I have known He makes fresh to my heart...so that I am constantly reminded of who I am and who He is! Holy is the Lord God Almight! Thank you for the sacrifice of your son, Jesus, for my sake. I'm forever grateful!

Potty training and my walk with God

Who knew I could get a picture of my relationship with God as I work to potty train my son. My adorable, fun-loving, almost 3 year old son Luke...I enjoy him so much. Well, I have been looking for the 'right' time to start to potty train him as he approaches his 3rd birthday. I was not convinced that he was quite 'there' yet, but we decided to give it an honest attempt. He worked very hard with me, earning those stickers and m&m's (one for just sitting, three for going pee, and five for the big ol' poop). He really didn't fight me on it, which if I'm honest, I expected him to do. Yet, after two days of what felt like living in the bathroom, and two days of a definite increase in laundry(after the first 3 'accident's ' in a matter of an hour I wised up and let him run around in just the underwear we were wearing during this experiment so as to not have to wash 15 pairs of pants)...well, after all of this I have decided that my little guy just isn't quite there. He's got a jist of it all...but definitely not the whole jist of it. We praised him for a good try, for practicing and have told him that we will have another practice time again...I will wait to see when that time will come again.
How does that give me a picture of my relationship with God? Well, first of all, God never has to wonder if I'm ready for something He wants to share or do with me. He knows me PERFECTLY as He is the One who created me. He longs to reward us for even the smallest of 'achievements', and is so patient with us when he 'mess up' (pun intended). I was quite tired both mentally and physically as I focused in on this one area of Luke's life while trying to attend just as well to the other normal facets of his and his two brothers' lives. Oh and how inadequate I felt. I wanted to be able to give so much time and energy to him in this while giving the same time and energy to everyone/everything else. I'm exhausted again, just writing about it. But how encouraging to me, as one of many children of God, that His time with me is never lacking. His attention to my every detail is never lacking. His awareness of what I need exactly when I need it is so keen. HE IS THE PERFECT PARENT.
I pray that I will attack what He has for me with the same enthusiasm that Luke did for what I had for him. I have all the tools needed in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ and in His Word that I must read over and over. Success is guaranteed...I am more than a conqueror, I am on the victory side...I just need to get doing it!

I'm going to be an AUNTIE!!!!!

Hello! I have great news to share! My sister and her husband are expecting a baby...and I am going to be an auntie again! I am so excited, however it is somewhat bittersweet because my sister lives in North Carolina. I want to be a part of this amazing time SO badly, so if anyone has tips or ideas on how to do that...please let me know! Of course, I will be on the phone often...and I will be there for when that baby comes (well, that's my plan).
I am SO excited...my first sibling to have a baby...HOW COOL IS THAT?!!!!
Love ya' sis!

Breathing

When I last wrote I shared that I was in the 'crazy spin zone' and was just wanting a moment to breathe! God is so good. This past Sunday morning I was so encouraged as I sought to worship my maker, the God of this universe. I have the great privilege to lead the praise team and music for Sunday mornings and I had so prayed over the music for this particular Sunday; because it was such a cry of where I was in my life. I also have the great privilege to be taught the Word by my own father every Sunday. This Sunday I felt like God allowed the service to be specically for me (though, thankfully I am not so self-centered to think it was really for me...) Anyway, my dad was teaching on the Flood. As we studied the text, my dad pointed the application to the times of "flood" in our lives, whatever that may be. He opened and closed the message with the passage in Isaiah 43:1-3 which says:

"...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God..."

As my dad concluded the message and read this passage I gave whatever pieces of 'life' I was holding on to over to God and I began to cry, but I also began to breathe!! I am so grateful for the Word of God that knows exactly when, where, and how to get us where we need to be gotten.
So...my week has been crazy still, but I am breathing as it goes.

Be Still and know...

Do you ever just feel like it's all just too much...that you would give anything if your 'world' would just stop spinning for one brief moment so you could catch your breath...I realize that this sounds quite dismal (nice word, huh?). Seriously, though, I find myself over these last days spinning and just when I think I'm going to get a chance to regroup...well, it doesn't happen. What is the answer for this? I know that what I need is to simply Be still and know that He is God. These are the times where I am so grateful that I serve a real and sovereign God who is in control when I am just NOT!!! :) I hope for anyone else who may be in that 'crazy spin zone' that you know the God who is in control, because if I didn't I sure would be a mess!
Anyway, a quick update...life in the Pomerleau household is a tad crazy, or so it feels. Kids are sick, schedules are full, and yet...we are blessed with little ones who remind us of enjoying the simple parts of the crazy days! Like my almost five year old who had a discussion with me about what to do in an emergency...very candidly and seriously he and I worked out what the plan is, who to call, what to say, etc. He was SO proud to have a discussion like that with me. And my almost three year old who stops me often during the day to just say "mom, I want you to hold me"...and I love those moments. And my six month old who is just so intrigued and happy with his own two feet! Praise God for my children who help me breathe in the enjoyment of this life that God has given.

...and more snow

Hello, hello!! Well, the snow has begun to fall as we head in to yet one more winter storm. This one will have snow, then sleet, then freezing rain! Leigh Anne I wish I could send some to you (just the snow, you don't want the ice stuff)! And, of course...I forgot baby cereal when I was out earlier so I just had to run out to good ol' 24 hour Walmart and grab some!! Certainly didn't need to be snowed in with a hungry 6 month old growing boy!!
So, what are we going to do with this storm...maybe get a chance to play outside...but more likely we will be snowed in as a family, next to the fire, playing games, eating food, wrestling, making Valentines and more...that really doesn't sound too bad does it.
Well...goodnight!