When mommy was blogging . . .

someone was into the markers!

HOW TO CATCH A PENGUIN

A little over a week ago an incident involving a little boy with down syndrome, occurred at SeaWorld that left such a smile on my face when I learned about it. It was evening and a family had just returned home from SeaWorld when they called to share this with our friends. The family told how their little boy had gone missing in the park. When they finally did find him, he was covered from head to toe in mud. No one knew where he had been. After arriving home, they opened up their son's backpack and discovered a penguin inside!

This little boy decided he would catch himself a penguin, even if it meant abandoning mommy and daddy, and getting down and dirty in the process. This was a calculated move and he went for it.

I can hardly resist praising the ambition in this child! In this case it was directed at fulfilling his own desires, however, there is another kind of ambition that is right to strive for mentioned in the New Testament.

"Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." 2 Co 5:9 NASB

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

What about you? What - or for whom- are you living?

Just in case you were wondering, the family did arrange to return the penguin to SeaWorld immediately. :>)

- Yvonne

SEIZE THE DAY

The last few days, amidst my very blessed duties of wife, mommy, and ministry, I found myself feeling extra tired (due to a few sleepless nights). Unlike any other time in my life, I craved sleep. Then I read this morning from Spurgeon that if light and darkness divided time in the first day (Genesis 1:5), it is only natural to expect, "changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity."

Of course those circumstances did not qualify for anything like a "midnight of adversity", but rather a feeling of sinking into the mire of the mundane when I really wanted to be heroically tackling the urgent and important demands of the day. Rather, this was the time for me to remember that whatever our sovereign Father ordains is wise and good! Regardless of the circumstances, I am learning that I need to crave contentment more than achievement, and to rejoice in His divine order.

"There is beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the Lord. . . . Believe that the night is as useful as the day."

What if our three children could learn from us the song of thanksgiving even during adversity? At any given hour of the day in our home, one will hear the sound of our children singing, and Eric and I often hear them quietly singing themselves to sleep at night (yes even Jack, if cooing can pass for singing). What a delight! However, when Sofia-Maree gets an "owie" or Braydon misses his cherished nap and things don't go his way, how readily tears often replace the song.

May Eric and I strive to teach them to sing whether it's "the mingled song of judgment and mercy, trial and deliverance, of mourning and delight"! What a wonderful way to seize the day as we keep watch and hope for the absolute and greatest surprise of all, the return of our Savior!

"Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord's servant until he shall suddenly appear in his glory."

- Yvonne

THE VOICES OF OUR CHILDREN

I leave for work most days hearing the voices of our children calling, "Daddy, Daddy, I love you!" I return home to the same robust greeting. Our daughter may ask if she can pray, or our son will hold up my wife's ipod and say "holy holy Lord!". I may hear our daughter recite a memory verse, or our son attempt to sing "Jesus Loves Me".

These are small but powerful reminders of what God has blessed me with as a father. Along with that blessing comes a great resonsibility to teach and train our children in the way of the Lord. I am blessed with three beautiful children who make my day and bring me much pleasure and enjoyment.

When I listen to our children's voices I remember the blessing from the Lord as well as the command in how I am to teach and raise them. Take a moment to reflect on the following words in Psalm 119:9-16 and Psalm 127.

Psalm 119:9-16
"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word."

Psalm 127
"Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep toa those he loves.
Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

- Eric

WELCOME!

We are so excited to share our lives with you and the great things God is doing in them on our very first Foust family blog site!

You can expect to hear whatever the latest Foust news is, peruse our pictures, and take a peek into our daily lives as we post our thoughts here and there. We heartily invite you to dialogue with us by adding your comments because we especially want to hear from you too. Look for new features to our site as we become more blog savvy.

Most of all our desire is to give praise to our mighty and awesome Creator!

Thanks for visiting.

With joy,
Eric & Yvonne

PS. A giant thank you to our friends, BOBBY & CHRISTA BLAKEY, for the inspiration and for sitting with us late at night to get us started! (Click on their links, "GODSONG MUSIC" and "BLAKEY BLOG" below).