Elias David Nelson.

Mike and Kari Nelson now have three bouncing boys. And they are all as handsome as could be.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow.

My niece Kielty, who will be turning four in a month, took it upon herself to cut her own hair. Her mommy and daddy haven't cut her long, blonde hair (except for bangs) since she was born.


Now, I must admit to being guilty of cutting my own hair when I was little. Her mommy and daddy are encouraging us to tell her that she is still beautiful, but he hair looks like a boy's haircut. So as to not encourage her hair trimming talent, I won't tell her this, but I still think she is as adorable as ever with her new haircut.

For Kelly & all those other moms out there...

Shortly after discovering that I was pregnant for the first time, I went out and purchased the book, The Power of A Praying Parent, by Stormie O'Martian. Her book on The Power of A Praying Wife revolutionized my life, so I figured this Parent book would be just as good. Even though my baby is still in utero, the prayers are going up. Each chapter touches on areas that are so important and I have a feeling that I will probably end up memorizing the whole thing to make sure I have covered every area of my kid's life in prayer. I had just read the chapter entitled Enjoying Freedom From Fear and then read Kelly's blog from Thursday the 25th. This chapter popped into my head and so I will regurgitate it here meanwhile fully realizing that it is geared for children AND that I haven't become a parent yet and will learn from these words for years to come. I just like a tangible way to deal with a feeling or situation. Hope it helps in some little way.

Fear was a way of life for me as a child because I lived with a mother who was mentally ill. Her bizarre, erratic, and abusive behavior was a constant source of terror. When, as an adult, I came to know the Lord, I learned to identify the true source of fear and battle against it. I’ve employed the same tactics on behalf of my children.

In Los Angeles we lived through earthquakes, fires, floods, riots, and rampant crime. Fear could have controlled our lives if we’d let it. In fact, we found ourselves praying about fear and protection so often that this plea became part of every prayer. Whenever I saw fear begin to grip either of my children, we would pray, read the Bible, sing hymns and worship choruses, and play Christian music. Since we moved away from the area we don’t have to deal with that kind of fear on a daily basis anymore, but the lessons we learned about God’s perfect love casting out all fear have been etched forever in each of our hearts.

Fear is something that comes upon us the moment we don’t believe that God is able to keep us, or all we care about, safe. FEAR- or False Evidence Appearing Real- easily strikes children because they can’t always discern what’s real and what isn’t. Our comfort, reassurance, and love can help them; but praying, speaking the Word of God in faith, and praising God for His love and power, can free them.

When Jesus was at sea with His disciples and a storm came up, He responded to their terror by saying, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith” (Matthew 8:26). He wants us, like them, to believe that our boat won’t sink if He’s in it with us.

There are times, however, when fear is more than a passing emotion. It can grip a child’s heart so strongly and so unreasonably that no actions or words can take it away. When that happens, the child is being harassed by a spirit of fear. And the Bible clearly tells us a spirit of fear does not come from God. It comes from the enemy of our soul.

Parents have the authority and power through Jesus Christ to resist that spirit of fear on their child’s behalf. Fear doesn’t have power over them. We have power over it. Jesus gave us authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Don’t be deceived into thinking otherwise. If fear persists, after you have prayed, ask two or more strong believers to pray with you. Where two or three are gathered together in the name of the Lord, He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Fear and the presence of the Lord cannot occupy the same space.

Because we have Jesus, we and our children never have to live with or accept a spirit of fear as a way of life.

PRAYER:
Lord,
Your Word says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). I seek You this day, believing that You hear me, and I pray that You will deliver (name of child) from any fear that threatens to overtake her/him. You said You have “not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Flood her/him with Your love and wash away all fear and doubt. Give her/him a sense of Your loving presence that far outweighs any fear that would threaten to overtake her/him. Help her/him to rely on Your power in such a manner that it establishes strong confidence and faith in You. Give her/him a mind so sound that she/he can recognize any false evidence the devil presents to her/him and identify it as having no basis in reality.

Wherever there is a real danger or good reason to fear, give her/him wisdom, protect her/him, and draw her/him close to You. Help her/him not to deny her/his fears, but take them to You in prayer seek deliverance from them. I pray that as she/he draws close to You, Your love will penetrate her/his life and crowd out all fear. Plant Your Word in her/his heart. Let faith take root in her/his mind and soul as she/he grows in Your Word.

Thank you, Lord, for Your promise to deliver us from all our fears. In Jesus’ name I pray for freedom from fear on behalf of my child this day.

James & Drew Nelson.

Video as Promised.

Stupendous Man.

Sitting around a family gathering a while back, we were going through a book of questions. We came upon the question of what super power you would want if you could have any super power out there. My answer was one stolen from a magazine interview with Piper Perabo (back when she did the movie Coyote Ugly) that I read while sitting in the waiting room of the wisdom tooth doctor. Her answer was to have a background soundtrack to her life. One where the song changed according to her mood. I honestly think that I would rather have that (whether it is considered a super power or not) than any other. Most people would probably pick flying. What would you pick?

Trip Synopsis.

Tuesday, January 9th
Wrapped things up at home. Flew all day to Hawaii. Starting at 11:40 a.m. in Boise and ending at 8:30 p.m. in Kauai. Rental car, restaurant at Wahooo's, grocery store then hotel. Fabulous hotel & grounds.



Wednesday, January 10th
Breakfast on the porch. Snorkel gear. Fruit. ABC Store. Poipu Bay. Snorkeling & Boogie Boarding. Drove around Poipu side. Hot tub. Shower. Dinner at the Lemongrass Grille. ABC Store. Jordan & Lisa over (Josh's brother was in Kauai at the same time and both trips were booked without either brother knowing about it until later). Learned how to use the washing machine (don't ask).



Thursday, January 11th
Hiked to Kipu Falls (don't worry, the pregnant lady didn't do the rope swing or jump off the falls like all the others). Lunch at Costco. Got me better snorkel gear. Snorkeling at Lydgate Park (a small closed in reef area). Dinner at Dukes. Walk on the beach. Hot tub.



Friday, January 12th
Anini Beach for lunch. Byron and I to Princeville. He golfed. I swam, showered, got a 50 minute massage, bought a smoothie, and met him on the golf course to ride along. Steph and Josh picked us up and we snorkeled on Anini Beach. Josh saw a sea turtle. Home to shower. Dinner at Pizzeta. Relaxed at the hotel. Tsunami warnings-that were later cancelled.



Saturday, January 13th
Snorkeling at The Beach House beach. Pics of a turtle. Snow cones. Down to the beach by Dukes. Lunch at The Beach Hut. Byron and Josh got surf boards. Josh caught two waves. Steph missing her kids. Wailua Falls. Showered. Dinner at Coconuts. Food, Service, Ambiance all terrible. Safeway. Bed.





Sunday, January 14th
Byron, Josh & Steph went to Napali Coast until 2:30 p.m. (The boat sick pregnant lady wanted to sleep in and swim at the hotel all day). I slept in. Worked out. Walked to Panda Express. Watched TV. Worked out return flight plans. Swam. Showered. Went to dinner at Kauai Pasta. Hot tub.




Monday, January 15th
Went shopping. Byron got shirts and swim shorts. Lunch at Mark's place for plate lunch. More shopping at Hana Lei-North Shore. Princeville. Hideaway Beach hike. Showers. Dinner at The Beach House restaurant. Cleaning and packing.




Tuesday, January 16th
Early morning flight to Oahu. Pearl Harbor. Lunch at Bubba Gumps. Ala Moana shopping. Ala Moana beach. Drove to East Shore-Kailua Beach. Watched kite-boarding. Dinner at Keneke's. Waikiki Beach walk and shopping. Red eye back to the mainland.







Wednesday, January 17th
Finished flights back home, arriving around noon. Naps. And that concludes our trip synopsis.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig.

Some of you may say "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog" like my college roomie, Jayci. So, my apologies to you if you fall in that category.

We are back from Hawaii (Kauai and Oahu). It was mostly Kauai, but we had a whole day lay over on Oahu so we spent a bit of time there. Since it is so very late Idaho-time right now, I will only post a few pictures and promise more later. At that time, I will also give a little synopsis of the week's activities.

Hear the Song.

My brother helped me figure out how to post that song I wrote about two posts ago. So, here it is.

Also, Byron and I are taking a "babymoon" starting tomorrow and we will not be back until next Tuesday. Kauai is the destination. Relaxation is the game. I will post pictures when I get back. Until then, enjoy the song...

What I Thought I Wanted

20 1/2 Week Ultrasound.

Third times a charm... I am going to try and post one more time here for those of you patiently waiting to see the latest pictures of our BABY BOY!!