A Train Ride

We finally got to go on a train ride! We rode up the mountain into the Australian rainforest on this historic train. We heard all about how the tracks were carved out by hand and what life was like working on the railroad. We always have to hold our breath through all the tunnels. We rode all the way up to a town on top of the mountain and had a yummy lunch and did some window shopping. We came down the mountain on the skyrail! It was a blast!! I'll post pics of the skyrail next time...

xotiff



Anxiety Vs. Contentment Part 1

Here is my confession...

i am anxious about returning to PNG with a newborn.

For all of the reasons you could imagine...malaria (#1), the distance from good medical care (what if he gets sick??), lack of social outlets, lonliness (can i handle it?), everything i was dealing with before plus the new baby and the issues that come with bringing him into a third world sistuation (i won't make a list).

So, i picked up the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow from the "one of these days..." pile beside my bed. i've been meaning to read it for years. It's a humdinger.

 She says our anxiety can be traced back to lack of contentment. Hmmm...i didn't really get it at first but upon further introspection it's true.

Do i really believe "God...is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters." (1 Tim.6:15), and that "i am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me." (Phil.4:13)?

Psalm 16:5 says "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure."

Who's in control here?

You are God.

Is He trustworthy?

Um, yes. Forgive me Father.

Elisabeth Elliot says:

"I know of no greater simplifier for all of life. Whatever happens is assigned. Does the intellect balk at that? Can we say that there are things that happen to us that do not belong to our lovingly assigned "portion" ("this belongs to it, that does not")? Are some things, then, out of the control of the Almighty? Every assignment is measured and controlled for my eternal good. As I accept the given portion other options are cancelled. Decisions become much easier, directions clearer, and hence my heart becomes inexpressibly quieter. A quiet heart is content with what God gives."

That is what i crave. A quiet heart.

So, from the book, here is a prescription for contentment:

*Never allow yourself to complain about anything- not even the weather.

*Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else. (ouch.)

*Never compare your lot with another's.

*Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.

*Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that tomorrow is God's not ours.

This is my goal:

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strenghth." (Phillipians 4:11-13)

I am becoming an expert in contentment, and the queen of the quiet hearts.

Anybody out there with me??

XOXO tiffany

[i have more to say on contentment...someday soon...]

Ever Have Days Like This??

There is a post growing in me about anxiety and contentment. Hopefully soon i will have the time to get started on that...but until then enjoy this golden oldie:

this sums up anxiety pretty well, non?

<3 t



5ive Weeks

Miani is already catching up with his 2 1/2 year old sister! She only outweighs him by 10 lbs. now...

Get a load of these cheeks. Perfect for kisses! xxx

He is such a roly poly. Look at those arms! EEEeeee! He's so sweet and pudgey my mouth waters...is that normal?

XO tiff

The 4 year old fish

      It should probably not be very surprising to me that kids have things they are naturally good at. It’s just the way God has made us. We all have different giftings. 
     A couple of years ago when Isaac, who had just turned 4, declared that he was going to ride his bike (never rode on 2 wheels before). Tiff said, “ok, I will come out and help you once I get the baby to sleep.” She put the baby down and went outside, figuring she would be running beside a bike for the next hour. but, when she got out there she found Isaac riding laps around the apartment building.
     Since we have been at Tree Tops, Isaac and Matthew have become quite good swimmers. This was not too much of a surprise. They were on the verge of swimming on their own when we left PNG since they both only had one arm floater that worked.
     The real shock was, 4 year old, Silas. He has always used a life jacket when swimming. One day Mae decided to take it off of him just to see what he could do and this is what happened:

Silas swims across the pool

     Sorry, for the beginning, he jumped in before I was ready. But, as you can see he swam across the pool. I was shocked the first time I saw him do it. Like Isaac, he just took right off.
     So, a couple of days later Tiffany and I were talking to the older ones about learning to dive and Silas said, “You just do it like this” and he dove in. He can dive better than any of the rest of them. it is crazy. Here is another video.

Silas diving

     No, telling what Evie and Miani are going to do but we will keep you posted.

matt

Get in my belly!!!!

 

{3 1/2 weeks old}

     It’s bad when your cheeks hang lower than your chin, but it happens. I mean after all, when all you do is eat, sleep, and poop you are  bound to get bigger. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE fat babies. There is noting better than a big fatty. I weighed him this morning and he tipped the scale at 6.2 kg or 13 lb 10.5 oz. He is busting out of his 3 month sized clothes. Carrying him around is like toting a sack of mud. He already weighs more than half of what Evie (our 2 1/2 year old) does.

     We are all doing well. I had a root canal and crown done this week. It was not a lot of fun but I guess it is better than the alternative.

     We have gotten Miani’s passport back and sent it off to the PNG embassy in Brisbane to get his visa. I have heard that they have not been processing them very fast right now so we might be pushing it close on time since we have already bought our return plane tickets. If he keeps getting bigger at this rate they might make us buy him a seat for himself.

      the other thing that I just thought of is that I probably ought to tell you how to pronounce his name. I think phonetically it would be something like this:                Mee-aah-nee

matt