My Annual Post

Well, it is time for my annual post:) Why is it that the year goes by so quickly and I am left looking back at very few words on pages of this Blog. I guess it just isn't how I invest my time. Yet I want to look back and be able to read about the amazing events (Brad in London, 10th Anniversary Norwegian Epic Cruise in the Caribbean, Trip to Tokyo and Kyoto Japan, Trip with Brad to Orlando are just a few of the travel highlights.) The answer for me is that I have 4 kids under 8 and a full-time traveling job along with a passion for people and hosting parties? This Christmas we hosted 8 full on parties. Starting November 28th with my women's Bible Study to the final one on January 4th for my company. They were well worth all the time invested but I believe I don't get these post done because I spend a ton of time decorating and cleaning:)

Alas, I have to post about something my son prayed on Saturday night. On Thursday I headed to the ER for dehydration from gastroentinitus and a CT scan for my appendix (it looks great) and was in bed all day Friday through Monday. On Saturday night my 6 year old Brody came in to pray with me since I could not go to his room. His prayer was something like this, but far more eloquent:
Dear Lord, We are grateful for all the many blessings you have given to us. For family, my teachers, our missionaries and may I glorify you in all I do. I pray that I would live out Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

I know I didn't pray like that as a 6 year old and as I listened to his sincere heart and words flow from him I was humbled. Reminded of the innocent prayers of a child and encouraged that my son has a tender heart for the Lord and the Holy Spirit leading his prayers.

Missed by a Millimeter!

A girlfriend of mine, Jess, just wrote an interesting and very "real" post and it made me think about how I need to more often write and update all of you that I don't get to see, spend time with or even know. I usually post little things about the kids or try to be funny like my sister Liz. reading Jessica's post made me realize that I can too be "real" online from time to time. Random thought: I wonder how many people would ever find this blog that didn't have the last name (or maiden name) Pike or Pluth. Anyway, her post has inspired me to post that peers into my soul and the person I quietly (ironic) am.

Last week I was on my way to visit my brother Robert at his work and waiting at a red turn light I looked down as my phone buzzed. Normally I am the type of person, when at the front of the line, I see the green and go for turn signals as they last 4 seconds and there is a line behind me! I see who has emailed and ignore it because I see my arrow is green. Across the way I see stopped cars and I wonder to myself how many seconds of a green arrow I wasted! As I start to go, from the corner of my eye, I see a car flying through the intersection. I lay on the horn as I simultaneously slam on my brakes. He doesn't even slow down as he literally misses my awesome MINI-van (another post) by a millimeter. I look at my light again, to make sure I didn't do anything wrong, and it is still a green ARROW. At that moment I wasn't mad at the guy but instead my second thought was, "Thank you lord for the hedge of protection you placed around me and for the email that caused me to pause for longer than I normally would have so that I would miss being hit." Life is precious and I need to share my faith with everyone but especially those I love, now. That was a catalyst for my reflecting on my active sharing...

This week I have been staying at my mom's house with her guys as she travels to visit my Grandma Dawn, who is not feeling as spry as she has been. Visiting the ER 7 times in the past two months isn't fun and speaks. Because I was slated for Jury Duty I was blocked off my work schedule which is a HUGE blessing because I was removed from Jury Duty (due to previously being summoned 2 years ago. Fact: You can only be summoned once every 4 years) which has allowed me to take off early from work to meet the guys here which allows my Mom, Barb, to be able to be away and spend time with her mom.

One of the things my Mom always thinks about as she visits is where her Mom is going when she dies. Will she accept Christ as her Lord and Savior on this trip? Having been thinking about this, on Sunday in our small church I brought up how I was convicted that I didn't explicitly share my faith enough. Fact: It isn't difficult for me to share my faith. I have always assumed I am a seed planter. You know, there are those that plant the seeds and prepare the hearts that will one day accept Christ and then there are those that help harvest. The harvest is when that person actually accepts Christ as their Lord an Savior. Because I have only led a few people to Christ in my life it would appear I am a seed planter...until I realized on Sunday that I rarely share the steps with others. In Christ I am bold in talking about my faith but weak in asking for the decision.

I prayed that this week I would be BOLD in love and in a real way. That I would take opportunities and not let them pass for who knows how many days we have with each person or ourselves. This week I have had two opportunities to share my faith in a pronounced way. One with my friend Jess who is struggling after her divorce and seeking. Another is tomorrow night I am going to watch the movie "The Passion of Christ" with another girlfriend. I have been saying "let's watch it together" for over two years and have never made the time. Always a good excuse. Travel. Kids. Work. Birthing another kid:) etc. This will be another platform for discussion and it is an amazing movie filled with truth and a very real demonstration of Christ's love for us. Kendra knows where I stand, and has always been respectful and open. She has attended my Bible Study and come to church with me but is still searching. Who knows she may even read this post. My hearts desire, Christ's desire is for her to know and experience Jesus in her life, personally.

May I demonstrate God's love to those I meet and know. May he use me to show unconditional love (that's hard!) and to live out that love to those I meet. May others know I am "different" and that is because of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jacquie Kerongo

Jacquie and Lucas Summer 2011

 This is Jacquie, from Kenya Africa. She is beautiful both inside and out. We were blessed to have her stay with us for 10 months and now she is set to head home on October 17th. When the kids pray for Jacquie they pray for their friend and her family being reunited. Of course they say it more like, "And I pray for Jacquie who misses her family so she is going to see them but then she will miss us. Mommy, won't she miss us? I will miss her."

Gabe, Brody, Jacquie, Raegan Summer 2011

Little Brody started crying in the car when I announced that she would be flying back to Kenya. He has such a compassionate heart and such empathy. Where he gets it from must be my Mom or Brad's Mom cause it kinda missed the Becky and Brad pool:). Brody asked if we could go to Kenya to visit her--now that's a loaded question. Can we, yes. Can we afford to? 6 of us?! However, Grace has a missions trip planned for 2013 to Kenya and I am definitely going to begin praying for the possibility of Brody and I going on that trip! It's never too early to begin praying. He will then be 6. Is that old enough for a trip like that? I believe for him it will be--I think he is going to be our little missionary. If you have a prayer list or tink of it please pray for our dear friend Jacquie as she will begin doing ministry back in Nairobi. Pray for supporters, the right fit in a ministry, her physical safety on her return and once back home (some native Kenyans that came to live in America have been robbed and murdered when returning home.)

Thoughts of a 6 year old

Tonight I was praying with Raegan. I have been really working on being more intentional about my prayers. Being more specific for areas of praise and growth. Praying for my kids futures, including their potential spouse, college and careers. Tonight I specifically prayed that the Lord would make it clear to Raegan as she gets older for a career that would be fulfilling and really use her gifts and talents. I am amazed at how short sighted that may have been. When I was done praying she said, "Mom, I think I know what I want to be." I asked her "What" expecting something like, a pilot, teacher, dancer--you know the typical 6 year old response. She said, "I think I want to be a stay at home mom." Truly beautiful. I paused and took that in and then asked her why. In her tender 6 year old voice she said, "because then I can spend quality time with my kids each day." Of course now I am wondering how she feels about my work, which takes me all over creation. I asked if she wished I were a stay at home mom? She said that I have a good job and that she does get to be with me on weekends and I take vacation days to be with her so that was okay.

I realized tonight many things. One is that my daughters love language is quality time.

Harrassment!

In response to several people urging me to update my blog (since it has been over a year!) I thought I better. Especially since we now have 4 kids and little Lucas has been left in the dust. At this juncture i believe my mantra is "Do it now, it won't wait." Why? Because when I tell Gabe (3) to give me a minute before helping him on the toilet, in order to finish pulling lunch out of the oven, I now have another mess to clean up:) It's either on the floor OR he has opted to get off the toilet himself leaving treasures on the toilet seat! Lovely. I should buy stock in Lysol Wipes.

Life is always busy. Doesn't matter how many kids I just like the busy life. Whenever I try to slow down I find myself being lazy and just sleeping. I love sleep but it seems like such a waste and afterward I feel guilty for not doing something more productive with my time. Like hanging out with the kids.

Raegan just graduated from kindergarten and she already likes boys! Whose kid is this anyway?! She is basically a mini-me but far smarter. Seriously, who teaches a 6 year old how to be so manipulative? Last night we were having dinner on the deck and she wanted to sit in Brody's spot and he wasn't having anything to do with it. She was trying every technique from I'll give you my dessert to you can have a sleep over. I ran inside (okay walked) to get more milk and when I got back out there she was in his spot! I asked Brody how Raegan got him out of his chair and he said, "She said please." I am proud of her for figuring that out but I believe it says a lot about Brody's character at the young age of four.

Speaking of his character, we were coming in from the garage a few weeks ago and Gabe noticed I had a pop in my hand. He said, "Mom, you are my best friend. Can I have a drink of your pop?" Of course I had to say yes to that--who could resist! Brody was right in front and heard the whole thing. I asked him if he'd like a drink of pop and who was his best friend. He said, "I'm sorry it's not you mommy." I was surprised seeing as I had the pop in my hand. Then he looked at me and said, "God is my best friend." AHHHHH. And yes, he got 2 drinks!

Enough for now--back to writing curriculum for a Club Med training I am headed to on Sunday!

Finally Updating

Well it is about time seeing as I do this twice a year. However, I figure I should update since the two people following might want to see that I do care about the birth of our fourth baby enough to add them to our family blog:) YES. We are due in late November and are very excited to add this precious babe to the Pluth contingency. I have been pretty sick, yet again. The past few days have been much better, but I must say in the evenings I wasn't feeling well AT all but no one likes a whiner so I sicked it up. No use in complaining (except at home to Bradly:)). Anyway, to the two of you who read this stuff--here's to you!

Well I am amidst writing my second book titled Webinars with WOW Factor! I am totally excited and have set a release date for March of 2009. I have hired a company to do the marketing to book buyers for this book and we are doing presales which is exciting. The scary part is getting the book finished so that it can be edited and then printed! All of this with us moving is proving to be quite the task. I am a bit overwhelmed but I know it will all come together. Here is what will be on the back cover of the book (thanks to the help of Liz!)





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