Thanksgiving Eve

Our Thanksgiving started off with an amazing concert at our church. The boys could not be any happier than to have front row seats with a clear view of the drums. What a blessing to be part of a church that embraces music as our family does. I love the video of Emily singing and then catching Ethan watching on. Ethan is our little drummer boy. We are past the stage of cringing when he would practice. He will watch Brook or Ryan, the drummers at church, and then go home to his own set to practice. During the service Ethan asked me if I could record the guys drumming so he could learn how to play like that. So this is what we have...amazing drumming that Ethan watches and gets to learn from. I know I have said this hundreds of times, Ethan is deaf with Cochlear Implants. Having lived his first three years of no hearing and then another two years of learning to hear,speak, and make sense of a hearing world I stand in awe of Ethan's modern day miracle of cochlear implants. Thankful that God brought the right people in my path to introduce our family to this option for Ethan. So enjoy this next clip.

Happy Birthday to Elliot

Can someone please pinch me. Really this kid is 22 years old today. I am not old enough. I was a young mom, in my early 20's but with a three year old napping in the next room it's very hard to believe that Elliot is now 22.

I have the joy, the blessing, and the fun of growing up one of my five children. Today he called to plan his trip home for Christmas, so much a young man that I have to laugh. Laugh because he is an adult who is so responsible. I was told a few weeks back by one of our pastors something like this..."Elizabeth you have some amazing kids"...I said..."well it's really all God I can give credit to" and his response was ..."yes but there was a mom in that house"...and I smiled. A mom that God chose to raise up this one. I may have been chosen to be in that house, but in God's pursuit of this young man's heart, he chose God back. Mom's don't have much say in that response except to pray for our children.

In my prayers I prayed that Elliot, my first child would love God first, love people right where they were at, and love music. All three prayers answered. Mother's pray specifically for your children. Pray every day. The days may seem long when they are young, but the weeks go by fast and next thing you know you are blogging that you can't possibly have a twenty two year old son.

Elliot if you read this, you know I have said hundreds of times how much your life has blessed me. You were the training ground for my first time mommy experience and now your brothers and sister reap what you taught me first. How to be patient, how to listen, and how to never forget to sing three songs before bed, and pray with you. Those were important to you, and now are as important to each of the other kids.

Happy Birthday Elliot!!!!

Blog Vacation

Hello to those who faithfully come by to visit. I am taking a little break. I have been putting my free time into building music.passion.hope. My time on the computer typically comes when a child is napping or the late night hours. Now that I am working on music.passion.hope those quieter hours are being spent there. I will miss the day to day visits, comments, and soon will start back up.

Please keep this new business in your prayers as we seek to serve God in all we say and do. Take a moment to visit emilyotteson.blogspot.com and missionpassionhope.blogspot.com. It's there you will find my time and energy.

More than just a Glimpse of Him

It's the end of the week and the typical stuff around here. Messy house, dishwasher running, kids watching a late afternoon movie and truly life is good. It's that kind of week when each day provided huge God moments. I often hear the words..."I got a glimpse of Jesus today". A glimplse? Just a glimpse? I ask myself every single day why He even shows up into my life, and everyday His love shines through the events that unfold in my life.

I was going to just talk about the week, but remember I am one of those Jesus freakish types. I don't stand on the street corners passing out tracks, or run along bike riders with signs. I just love seeing my life embraced by Him and not just seeing the glimpse's but seeing Him move in my life and those around me.

Our book club ended this week. Something the last chapter highlighed was "boastful moments" about God. Why do we hold back? Do we see Him in the small stuff or do we see Him in the big stuff too? And do we boast whole heartedly when He amazes your socks off.

So this week ending and the relaxing Friday ends with God's hand on a new business venture. I have been working on launching a benefit concert organization. It has a name music.passion.hope. I have a blog on this, so take a moment to visit and find out more of what we are doing. Today a call came out of the blue for my company to come alongside another mission. It's not me people, it's the amazing blessing of God saying "okay Elizabeth you don't like to be idle, so lets get you doing something for My Kingdom".

So as this week comes to end I want to publically give God a big hug and smile for healthy kids, a warm home, an amazing husband who smiles at my new business idea, and supports me, and then to friends who allow me to attempt back flips of joy over the silly things in life.