Jason Mraz

I Won't Give Up 

http://vimeo.com/39450337

PJ and I went to see the Zack Brown Band at the Hollywood Bowl and it was pretty awesome.  We even had a surprise visit from our old San Diego buddy, Jason Mraz. This song is nice.

It's been a long time...

I haven't blogged in so long. Maybe I will start again. 

Here is an excerpt from Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp:

"You must regard parenting as one of your most important tasks while you have children at home. This is your calling. You must raise your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord...There is nothing more important. You have only a brief season of life to invest yourself in this task. You have only one opportunity to do it. You cannot go back and do it over...

Parenting is your primary calling. Parenting will mean that you can't do all the things that you could otherwise do. It will affect your golf handicap. It may mean your home does not look like a picture from Better Homes and Gardens. It will impact your career and ascent on the the corporate ladder. It will alter the kind of friendships you will be available to pursue. It will influence the kind of ministry you are able to pursue. It will modify the amount of time you have for bowling, hunting, television, or how many books you read. It will mean that you can't develop every interest that comes along. The costs are high. 

How can you measure the cost against the benefits?"

I like this.

Like Father, Like Son

PJ and I went snowshoeing last weekend with some great friends, Matt and Caroline and their two kids, Rylan and Meira. We paved trail on a private 80 acre property of some friends of theirs in Eagle River. It was sunny, blue skies and about 30 degrees out....perfect and uncommon, alaskan winter weather.

About halfway through the trip, we found a great place to sled.

Here is a picture of Matt, Rylan and PJ and all the stuff coming down the hill...PJ thought it was funny to do an impression of Gunnar and his huge, often silent laugh.

Gunnar loves life. He is full of it. He loves people and watching the world around him. He loves to smile, laugh, cackle and charm.

He is such a wonderful gift.

Gunnar loves jumping on his horsey!

You're Beautiful

My uncle Paul, and friend, Gracie, sang this song at our wedding during communion. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of the ceremony. This youtube is a little cheesy, but also good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSCeYfA3seE

I am embarrassed that I still do not have wedding photos up and running, or else I would creatively insert one of Paul and Gracie singing this song and maybe one of PJ and I too! As it is, here is one of us on our honeymoon which is another beautiful memory.

More Tozer

"With the veil removed by the rending of Jesus' flesh, with nothing on God's side to prevent us from entering, why do we tarry without? Why do we consent to abide all our days just outside the Holy of Holies and never enter at all to look upon God? We hear the Bridegroom say, "Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely" (Song of Sol. 2:14). We sense that the call is for us, but still we fail to draw near, and the years pass and we grow old and tired in the outer courts of the tabernacle. What hinders us? " pg.43

Tozer, The Pursuit of God

As we continue our community group, I am finding that there are highs and lows. The highs are when I feel the Lord's Truth get to me or to others and it is exciting. The lows are when I feel like these Truths get lost in our own talk.

This quote is from a chapter called "removing the veil." Tozer talks about being in the Presence of God. How it is not an intellectual thing but a spiritual thing. How it is not something to simply dream about but something to be experienced. He talks about the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the tabernacle, being torn when Jesus died.

"Ransomed men need no longer pause in fear to enter the Holy of Holies. God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience." pg. 36

This is amazing. I know I don't understand it fully. But even to read it in this book the way Tozer describes it, helps me get a little more why Jesus died and the effect it has for me. I believe that we are meant to experience this closeness here and now. We have total access to the God of the universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords....Jesus, the Messiah, our Creator, our Abba, Father.

Tozer talks about the "self-life" hindering us from this oneness. He describes the self life as "self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love and a host of others like them. They dwell too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them. The grosser manifestations of these sins-egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion-are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders, even in circles of impeccable orthodoxy..." pg. 45

I don't think I would have had much a clue what Tozer was talking about here, except for a study PJ and I did in San Diego, called "Gospel and Heart. It was all about discovering the idols of our hearts and lives that keep us from worshipping God. These idols can be good qualities about ourselves that we want to protect or that we believe define us in some important way...things that we feel threatened by if taken away...they can be things like our jobs, our relationships...etc. I believe this is what Tozer is referring too when he talks about the self-life.

How tragic to live life within the confines of our own idols-especially when Jesus has died for us and the veil is torn.

Little G Video

PJ and I were having some fun video-ing Gunnar. I've never posted a video, so just wanting to try it out. Enjoy!

Milk

It's getting more intense, people. That is nursing! Supplements galore! I'm on a daily regimen of the products seen here: Oatmeal, beer, brewer's yeast, lecithin, cod liver oil and more milk plus. This is all to keep my milk supply up so that I can keep nursing as long as possible.

The other day I picked up two growlers of beer from a local brewery. The manager brought them out and said something like: "someone's gonna have fun." To which I responded, "yeah, it's actually to help with nursing..." That was kind enough, right? I could have definitely been more dramatic, but wanted to spare the nice man. He then responded by saying how much trouble his wife had nursing and how she gave up after only a few days...so all formula for that baby. He said to keep up the good work.

I'm not gonna lie, this made me feel pretty good about myself. But really, it is kind of ridiculous to take all this. I almost feel like I need a daily check-off list. I suppose it's worth it though-I really do enjoy nursing my little guy.

A.W. Tozer's: The Pursuit of God

PJ and I have been reading and enjoying this book. We have had it on our hearts to start a community group in our home and last night was the first one! It was so refreshing to have our home filled with guests and to fellowship with one another. I hope others enjoyed it as much as we did and feel encouraged in their relationships with Christ. Here are just a few excerpts from chapter 1 that I really liked. Feel free to comment!

"The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him." pg. 12

"Religion, so far as it is genuine, is in essense the response of created personalities to the creating personality, God." pg. 13

"We have almost forgotten that God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can...God is a person, and in the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, desires, and suffers as any other person may. In making Himself known to us He stays by the familiar pattern of personality. He communicates with us through the avenues of our minds, our wills and our emotions. The continuous and un-embarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul of the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion." pg. 13-14

"I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present of there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted..." pg. 17

"When religion has said its last word, there is little that we need other than God Himself. The evil habit of seeking God-and effectively prevents us from finding God full revelation. In the and lies our great woe. If we omit the and we shall soon find God, and in Him we shall find that for which we have all our lives been secretly longing." pg. 18

I'm Tired...

I'm too tired to blog....

don't take this the wrong way. I want to and think I will continue. But this whole mom thing is such a job! I think living in Anchorage makes it harder though. It's so much work to just get out and do one thing like the grocery store. Today was the first day I put Gunnar in the child seat of the cart rather than moby-ing him. This meant putting him in his snowsuit in the car, before getting out. Once in the store and situated...and let me tell you, being"situated" takes time in and of itself....we started our quest. He was content for about 10, maybe 15 minutes. At which point, he started squirming, whining and I knew if I didn't do something soon, it would be a full on meltdown. So, the rest of the trip was consumed by trying to multi-task-giving him toys, bottle, etc etc...meanwhile pushing the cart, picking up groceries, trying to maintain a "I'm cool guys-totally in control" mom look. After getting through checkout, I tried to make sure everything that came out of the diaper bag ended up back in, that Gunnar was appropriately clothed for the winter cold and that keys were in hand. After getting the snowsuit off, all the groceries unloaded and putting him in his carseat with monkey and pacy-we were on our way home. Unfortunately, he screamed the whole way back. I'll spare the details of getting into the house with a screaming baby, cold temps, lots of groceries and probable lurking moose. It's hard...and this was just a fraction of the day. Can anyone relate???

"Hilltop Ski Area will be closed today Tuesday 1-17-2012."

After the long process of getting out the door in winter wonderland conditions with a 5 month old....AND succeeding to get my mom's hamburger soup in the crockpot-I proudly drove into our local ski area yesterday afternoon. Sadly, I found the title of this entry posted outside the main doors to the lodge. Apparently if it's less than negative ten degrees, they close the mountain. Wish I would of known...

Oh well. My faithful friends, John and Stacia came over instead. We made a fire, ate junk food and played with Gunnar until PJ got home from work. Then PJ and John went outside to chop some wood (because that's what you do in Alaska). We then all enjoyed that yummy hamburger concoction and played "Ticket to Ride." Ended up being a warm, cozy and fun....below freezing night together;)

To ski or not to ski?

It's -10 outside. Bright sun shining. Frost on trees. A winter wonderland. But I just got a pair of free downhill skiis, have a free ticket to ride and free lessons-all thanks to my friend, Stacia. I know the fire will be here when I get home. Hopefully I can get something warm cooking in the crockpot. I should really get out there. Right???

Does anyone look at this anymore?

I haven't blogged in SO very long. I don't feel like I've done much of anything I used to do in so long. But now, Gunnar is sleeping....FINALLY. I hope and pray this continues. He is already 5 months old! This is one of my favorite pictures of Gunnar with the Petersen men. I think he'll fit in well;)

Ever seen a grizzly this close?

PJ and I took a little trip to the Conservation Center here in AK...It's sort of like the zoo, only not. The animals are only kept here if they have some type of health issue that holds them back from entering the wild. It was pretty incredible.

This is Mr. Bear. Though he had 15 acres to roam in, he graced us with his presence for about 15 minutes...just pacing back and forth, apparently perturbed about something.

It was July 4th, so I felt it was okay to wear these colors together.

Don't forget about the Moose! They look so soft and friendly through the electric fence.

Here is a bison. Doesn't he look as tall as the mountain in the background?

This is a musk ox who is shedding his fur. These guys have such a thick coat, they must be sweltering in the 65 degree summer weather...probably anxious for winter.

It's nice to see these majestic animals up close when there is a fence between you and them. The next day, PJ and I took a hike and I was much more aware of how terrifying it would be to run into a bear. The trick "they" say is to talk loudly, ring bells, carry bear spray...so much for a relaxing hike. I'm still acclimating.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday MOM! Today she turns the big 60! To me, her age doesn't seem to define her. She will always just be my mom. I'm so thankful for her and hope today brings much joy as her life is much to be celebrated. Love you, MOM.

Only in Alaska

License plates. People really like customizing their plates here. To the point where it is really starting to bother me. You can't go out without seeing an individualized plate...multiple ones, infact. Just a few I can think of from the top of my head include: "mibenz," "4fshing," and "whyme." I wonder what makes people think this is so cool.

Trucks. Pretty much everyone has one. The bigger and louder, the better.

Dairy Queen. Also known as "DQ." People really like it here. There's a lot of them. Someone told me that out of all the locations in the U.S., "DQ's" have their highest success in Alaska. See all the trophies?

Still here...Stay with me!

PJ and I have been enjoying time with his parents this last weekend. We've been blessed by their visit and glad they could see our new stomping grounds up here in the far far north;) I'm about 33 weeks in this picture, so baby continues to grow. Behind us is the "Worchester Lagoon"-which is only about a mile from our house. It's great on a sunny day!

Also...2 years ago today, PJ got down on his knees and asked me to marry him! I'm SO very thankful for him.

Mom's on Facebook

I feel that mom's perhaps should not be on facebook...just a personal opinion;) I am going to be a mom in approximately 2 months! So, I'm wondering if I should get off facebook and do a blog instead. That along with a few other reasons...