Hello summer

Today was the first day of school holidays.  We had our first play date of the summer this morning and then this afternoon we took the bike, scooter, and stroller to the cemetery.  My oldest nephew became a teenager today.  Tomorrow we'll be with family celebrating Canada's 150th birthday (and thinking of my cousin celebrating her birthday).  I still need to make a salad so this post may not be long.

I feel a little down.  I'm not sure if it's due to Josiah's death anniversary coming up next week or not.  I was able to look at some pictures of him today and remember.  We'll plant some flowers at his grave on Monday and probably take flowers for the vase next Thursday.

Sadly, my Uncle Moffit passed away this month in Northern Ireland.  Thankfully my dad was able to go over for the funeral.  I remember he and his family coming to visit us in Canada and I remember he and Auntie Violet taking us out

for the day when Graham, Isaac and I visited in 2011.  He was very kind and generous to us.

I am looking forward to seeing Graham's brother and sister-in-law and family next week.  The whole family was last here when Josiah passed away and Isaac doesn't have memories of playing with his cousins so we're going to make some good memories the next couple of weeks.

Thankfully Lily-Anna sleeps through the night.  We sleep-trained her at the beginning of June and it didn't take long for her to figure out the new routine.  The longest she had to cry without us was 7 minutes and I think that was only once.  It seems like such an amazing process to me - it's sort of like seeing her brain learn the new normal.  I remember feeling the same thing when we did it with Kohen.

I borrowed a book from the library about trying new healthy foods and getting your kids involved with choosing recipes and preparing the foods.  I was amazed at the difference this made in attitude.  Isaac chose bok choy as his first dish and then cod and the boys later helped prep brussel sprout chips.  After preparing the recipes, Isaac was excitedly telling me how good the food was going to taste.  Kohen was a little too eager with the salt on the "chips" but other than that the boys enjoyed the dishes.

Kohen and I had a coversation during lunch that demonstrates how well the boys listen to Graham's Eugene stories.  Eugene is a bunny.

Kohen: I wish I could be a rabbit because then I could climb trees.
Mommy: Rabbits don't climb trees.
Kohen: Yes they do.
Mommy: No, rabbits do not climb trees.
Kohen: Rabbits can climb trees.  Trust me.  Eugene is a bunny and he has climbed trees.
Mommy: Eugene is a very clever bunny and he does things that other bunnies cannot do.  [Like inventing robots to help the police, for example.]

The kids and I were playing downstairs one day and I asked Kohen what superpower he would like to have.  He chose flying.  Then Isaac said something like, "I wouldn't choose to fly.  I would choose to have all my Lego organized."  That made me laugh.

Lily-Anna loves to pull herself up to standing now and sometimes walks a little if she's holding hands or holding onto a stool she can push.  She loves to explore and she loves the bathroom whenever she can get past me to make it inside.  She likes it when Graham or the boys chase her when she's crawling.

Last weekend I was very happy to see the one cousin whom I grew up with (as in, the only cousin who lived in Canada).  She now lives overseas so it was nice to have lunch together.  It was of course a pleasure to see my aunt and uncle as well but thankfully they live closer so we can see them a little more often.

It's time to say goodnight.  Thanks for any prayers.  I'll post and then change to the computer and try to add a few photos.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Goodbye May

May was a busy month with four family birthdays to celebrate and a fun long weekend with family.  The transition to Graham being back at work went well.  We haven't been late for school once - except when we purposely went as a family to see Graham off at the train station for a conference out of town. 

The boys had a fun time with Graham and Grandpa Ray at the Blue Jays' game last weekend while Lily-Anna enjoyed a Mommy date and a lunch out with Grandma Betty. 

The day after my birthday I made a commitment to go to sleep at a reasonable time (aim for 10:30 but lights off by 11:00 - unless a child is in need of me) and to stop eating the mounds of junk that I had been eating.  Things are going well so far.  I've definitely been doing more with Kohen during the day. 

Thanks to a Youtube video, we were able to fix our freezer at the beginning of the month.  The drain was clogged with ice but we followed the instructions and met with success.

Isaac lost his first tooth.  He's been waiting for that for a while so we were all excited. 

Soccer starts this weekend for Isaac and piano is almost over, with a recital this weekend.  One more month of Grade One for Isaac!  He's really growing up.  He loves telling jokes he has made up based on a play on words. 

I bought the boys a couple of placemats.  Kohen was looking at his ABC placemat and the following conversation took place:
Kohen - What!?!  It's really not true though, right?
Mommy - What?
Kohen - This shows eyes and a mouth on the moon.
Mommy - No, it's not true.  Some people just talk about a man on the moon.
Kohen - A man on the moon!?!

Kohen and I were in the washroom washing our hands and he started making up a story that included Josiah crying.  I reminded him that Josiah doesn't cry anymore because he's in Heaven.  He told me he'd like to send a card to Josiah.  I asked him what he'd say in the card.  He said, "I'm glad you don't cry any more."

Well, it's past 10:30 so I'd better try to find some photos quickly.  Thanks for any prayers as we try to raise these children for God's glory.  It's challenging most days.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  

Happy Birthdays!!!

We celebrated Lily-Anna's first birthday yesterday and Graham's birthday today.  I think this is the first time that Graham has shared his birthday cake with someone else.  I offered to make him his own but he decided to just use Lily-Anna's cake.  She actually enjoyed it.  I was surprised because the boys didn't eat much when they turned one but she had a good sized helping.

I would love to write more but I have committed to myself to do my best to get to bed by 11:00 PM which means that I don't get as much done as I would like but I am more awake and engaged for my kids during the day.  I may even be nicer (says Isaac), but I think the verdict is still out.  I will write tomorrow night.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

“And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15:3‬

New Towels!

April has felt like a long month but it has been productive.  We now have some new flooring, baseboards, paint, a bathroom vanity, and a bed frame with drawers (with lots of help from the grandparents and tons of work from Graham).  Let's just say that there was no funeral for the original bathroom vanity from the 70s.  I do not miss you at all, though I am thankful for your faithful service.

I am very pleased to inform you that there are no more hand towels on the floor in my bathroom as each of the Faulkners now has a different colour towel within reach that never needs to leave its hook.  How can I possibly thank you enough, Ikea, for towels with hanging loops?  Isaac chose red and Kohen chose navy blue and we assigned Lily-Anna yellow as she is like the sunshine.

Speaking of our little sunshine, she can now do a real crawl and pull herself up to her knees and support herself when she is placed standing beside something.  She is now quite adept at getting into things and finding small things on the floor.  We are sweeping more often.  She turned 11 months old today!  She's also had a cough for about a month and a half.  Thus, she has not been sleep-trained as she needs to be well.  She has thrown up many times after coughing or crying.

I believe I mentioned last month that we now have a three-year-old.  Did I mention that I find three-year-olds especially challenging?  He

decided to try his graffiti on Grandma and Grandpa's walls (thank you Magic Eraser), and he thought the basil in Grandma's glass container would be better situated on her white carpet beneath not one, but two beds in her home (I'm thankful for vacuums).   I guess he thought the diaper cream would also be better on the bathroom door handles.  (After all this, they still think he is an angel!)  He was being a little too quiet one day and I found him with the baby Advil and Tylenol on top of Isaac's bunkbed.  Thankfully nothing went in his mouth but the Advil was dumped out on Isaac's bed. (Yes, we do have a locked box and I'll be more careful.)

Of course, he also regularly tells me that he loves me and that I'm the best "cooker maker" and he gives nice cuddles.  He is definitely a very sweet, cheeky monkey who has yet to figure out what an inside voice is.  We were driving in the van one day and I was singing as I often do and it must have been a quiet stretch of road with no other cars because I guess I clapped to the music once or twice.  Kohen told me that our van could drive itself.  I told him that we don't have one of those vehicles but he said we did and told me that the van drove itself when I clapped my hands.

Isaac wants to know if Star Wars will continue when we are in Heaven.  We enjoyed listening to him at his spring piano recital and in the kids choir on Easter Sunday.

So, after a lovely four months, Graham heads back to work tomorrow morning.  We'll see what time I am able to get Isaac to school as I don't think I've done the morning run since before Christmas!  Actually, we've picked out the boys' clothes for the morning and I think the schedule will run quite smoothly.  Isaac has been using

headphones when he practices piano in the morning and that has helped him to focus.  I had always said no screen time in the mornings but I discovered that this little ten minute reward has decreased the morning drama.  If Isaac is all ready for school by a certain time and if Kohen dresses himself in a certain time, then they are able to watch a short show or video.

We celebrated Josiah's birthday.  He would have turned five on the 13th if he were with us.  We enjoyed some ice cream cake after taking some flowers to his grave.  We then celebrated Jesus' death and resurrection over Easter weekend.  It will be incredible to one day celebrate with all of the redeemed together in the presence of Jesus.      

Well, Isaac needs a lunch made.  Thanks for any prayers.  I am definitely going to miss having Graham home.  What an incredible blessing this time has been.  This week we start a new Bible study (after a month off) on the names of God.  By the way, I think Lily-Anna is going to be a Daddy's girl.  She lights up for Graham.  She seems to be able to say 'Mama', 'Dada', and 'Bye'.  Her favourite sound is Ba-ba.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Isaiah 35:10
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 

March

I need to type fast as Lily-Anna keeps waking up.  She has a cold and her coughing has made her throw up for three nights in a row after I try to nurse her to sleep.  We're getting better at having towels ready at least.

Lily-Anna is now ten months old.  She still does the army crawl but she certainly gets where she wants to go - to the boot tray in particular as she enjoys trying to eat what she finds there.  She just has her two front teeth but eating is improving little by little.

It's been a busy and enjoyable March.  Kohen turned three years old.  On his last day being two years old he talked about Josiah a lot.  He asked me, "When I was born did I see Siah?"  I explained and then I showed him the photo taken of Josiah after I told him that he was going to be a big brother (because I had just found out that Kohen was on the way).  He later asked me, "When will Siah come and visit?" I explained a little about heaven.  He replied, "I won't say hi to Jesus, just Siah.  Did Siah die on the cross?" Oh, it's so much for a small boy to process.  Another day he said, "It's really really sad that Siah died."  He brings him up quite often.

*

Isaac: "Lily-Anna's the most beautiful baby I've ever heard of."

*

Isaac to Lily-Anna: "Lily-Anna tu es tres tres tres belle.  That means you are very very very pretty."

*

Isaac: Are we going to have infinity days with God in heaven?
Mommy: Well, the new heaven and the new earth.
Isaac: That's what I meant.  It's sort of like always living in a hotel.
Kohen: And then Josiah will come and shake our hands.

*

In the morning both boys climbed into our bed and Lily-Anna was there.  Kohen gave her a big hug and said, "You're my best baby in the whole world."

*

I was with Kohen in Home Depot looking at a few items and he was ready to leave.
Kohen: Mommy we have to pay.
Mommy: Yes we do (walking in the other direction).
Kohen: If we go that way we can't worship Jesus.  God said go this way.

*

We were in the car and Kohen started praying so I asked him if he'd seen an ambulance (as we pray if we see emergency vehicles).  He said he hadn't but he was just praying for anyone who was bleeding that God would help them.

*

We travelled to Stittsville for part of March Break to see family.  The boys love being with their cousins.  On the way back we stopped at a hotel to give Isaac a little piece of heaven on earth - "cartoons, swimming pool, and a breakfast that includes 'coloured Cheerios' (he has now discovered these are called Fruit Loops).  After a couple of nights at home we went to spend time with Graham's parents and his brother from B.C.

On the Sunday before school started I saw a note on the calendar that read, "Isaac wants to eat Italian Wedding soup."  I remembered that we'd happened to do that last year and Isaac thought it would be neat to make it a tradition ... so, that's what we ate and it will be on the calendar next year.

We've been fitting in doctor's appointments and eye appointments and dentist appointments before Graham heads back to work.

We've also pulled up the flooring in the kitchen, bathroom, and hallways and today the subfloor was screwed down to get rid of all the squeaking.  That will be a treat!  A great big thank-you to our parents for all of their help!

I'm afraid that the days of Kohen napping are over.  The other day we just let him sleep about an hour and he was still wired at bedtime.  Today he asked me to let him nap but I was able to keep him awake with the help of two Grandmas.  I realized today why Kohen just jumps up and down when he needs "to go" instead of telling us.  He just wants us to run after him.  He loves it when we do this.

This is my last month with Graham at home.  It's been such a blessing.  I am not looking forward to May and school mornings.  I haven't taken Isaac to school since before Christmas!

I'd better see if I can figure out how to add photos.  If I hear Lily-Anna wake up, I'll just post this and add photos later.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Fun February

It's always fun going on Mommy dates with my boys and I try to do that with each of them around Valentine's Day.  I think the last cake pop Isaac had was during last year's Valentine's date so it was time for another one.  I take them out separately for a special time.  I also found heart sprinkles in the store so Kohen helped me make some cookies and both boys helped deliver them to a few neighbours.

Graham and I even went out for dinner and dessert after putting the kids to bed at my parents' home.   I think this was our first time out alone since Lily-Anna was born.  Now that restaurants have to post nutritional information, we were well aware of the number of calories we consumed in our chocolate peanut butter cheesecake - it's a good thing we shared it.  Thankfully Lily-Anna only woke up five minutes before we returned and she waited patiently with Grandma until I could put her back to sleep.

Lily-Anna in her new dress

We spent Family Day (an Ontario holiday) at Graham's parents' property where we had an outdoor picnic and helped Grandpa tap some maple trees in great anticipation of delicious maple syrup.  We were able to pull Lily-Anna on the sled after we bundled her in, with the help of a bungie cord.  She fell asleep in there on the way out.

Lily-Anna has her first dress from Sierra Leone as my cousin was there recently and very kindly bought it for her.  She sported her new style this past Sunday (along with a long-sleeved onesie and tights to keep her warm).

Both Graham and I have enjoyed spending time with various friends this month and we're actually both reading books so it's quite clear that Graham is on parental leave.  Graham takes Kohen to a library program and a swimming lesson and Isaac to swimming and skating.  All of those will soon be finished.

Lily-Anna performing for the camera

I just finished reading the memoir Lion about a boy who became lost in India and ended up being adopted by a couple in Australia.  Twenty-five years later, with the help of Google Earth and Facebook, he found his way back to his birth family.  I'm also making my way through a book about divorce and remarriage in the Bible due to a friend's situation.  The author claims that in the Bible, Jesus and Paul allow (though do not encourage) divorce on the basis of broken marriage vows, which would include abuse and neglect in addition to unfaithfulness.  I still have a lot to read.    

Graham and Lily-Anna hiking into Raybeth

 Sadly, Isaac had to have a cavity filled today.  Now that we know how much this costs, we will not be forgetting to floss his teeth anytime soon.  We thank the Lord (and the university) for some health coverage.  Isaac was given laughing gas (this was never an option at my dentist when I was a child) and he told me that it was really fun.  The worst part was that he couldn't eat this morning before his 8:00 appointment.  Graham used this as an opportunity to remind Isaac about people who are often hungry and this helped calm him down.      

Lily-Anna is now fully sitting and army-crawling more often.  I was getting a prescription filled and saw a small princess frame that I couldn't resist buying for her.

I was pleasantly surprised when Isaac prayed that I would only have to be up once with Lily-Anna in the night.  I told him this morning that I was with her four times, though the fourth was just an earlier wakeup than I would have preferred.  She might as well get it while she can because I think sleep training is coming in April before Graham returns to work - if I'm brave enough.

A winter lunch at Raybeth

Lily-Anna's new trick is waving goodbye.  I've been able to leave her in the nursery at church the last four or five Sundays so that's been a nice treat.  This is also the first Sunday that Kohen hasn't cried when I left him at Sunday School so we're making progress.  It's hard to believe Kohen turns three on Sunday.  I do however remember that with Isaac we found age three more challenging than age two, though that may have also related to Josiah's death when Isaac was two-and-a-half.

I'm facilitating our Bible study tomorrow night on 2 Peter 2 so I'd better sign off and add some photos to this post and January's post.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth


2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Kohen and his beloved Elmo and Mommy

The boys tapping a maple tree with Grandpa Faulkner

Lots of Thoughts

Yes, it's that time again to record some thoughts on "paper".

Lily-Anna turned eight months old yesterday and she is as lovely as ever.  She had her first tooth in January and also began the army crawl and she can sit up for quite a while until she falls or throws herself backwards.  She has seemed to wave a couple of times but that's possibly wishful thinking. She's not yet too interested about soft finger foods.  She usually plays upstairs but I took her to the basement and she was excited to explore.  She makes lots of sounds and has great laughs but she's Miss Serious in public and when the camera comes out.

We often refer to her as "Baby" or "Baby Girl".  That seems weird to use those terms as a name when talking to her or referring to her, more often than her real name.  I feel like it might be related to losing Josiah  (what's a better word? I didn't lose him!).  But, maybe it's third (fourth) baby syndrome as I am constantly calling Isaac Kohen and vice versa.

I think I mentioned before that one of my favourite things is nursing Lily-Anna (and the others when they were babies) on the comfy chair in the dark before bed and nap time.  So peaceful.  As soon as I start there's a relief of tension.  One of my other favourite things is after I nurse her and she's asleep on my chest and shoulder, facing me.  I give the softest cheek a kiss and whisper my love.  I remember once telling someone that I nursed Isaac to sleep and she immediately said that I should never put a baby to sleep in a crib after they are sleeping but I should instead keep them awake so they learn to fall asleep themselves.  I am very thankful I didn't hear this advice earlier or choose to follow this advice as I am sad that some people miss the amazing wonder of a perfect sleeping baby on one's chest.  Yes, she's perfect when she's asleep.  So many beautiful moments to cherish.  I am always tempted to just let her sleep there but there's always something I should be doing.  I am realizing that this time passes so quickly.

I have often thought that the medical staff should have really encouraged me to give a bottle to Josiah right away at home and also a soother as both of those things may have possibly brought him some comfort in the hospital.   I was so proud of him for learning to nurse.  He only ever took a little of my milk from one bottle that Grandma gave him, apart from the first couple of days in the hospital.  Actually, it's only at this present moment that I realize it wouldn't have made any difference as he was intubated for so long so I don't think those things could have helped.  Instead, I have my memories of nursing him.  God gave me a gift of an extra nursing session after he went into the hospital for his long stay.  A few days after we arrived, he was extubated for the first time and he nursed really well. The nurse checked his weight to verify and then she told me that he hardly had anything but then I asked her to check her decimal points and it turned out he'd had an enormous amount of milk.  I'm now questioning if that was my only feed or if there was one more but he ended up throwing up and later desatting while at rest and was sent back to Cardiac Critical Care and was intubated, never to nurse again.  Thank You Lord for the joy and blessing of being able to feed my son, and not having to have the stress of bottles amongst all the other stresses of those early months.  You give good gifts Lord.        

***

I heard Isaac laughing loudly in his room after he and Kohen had gone to bed.  I then heard Kohen laughing as well.  After a while I heard the following:

Kohen - Isaac?
Isaac - Yes?
Kohen - Why are we laughing, Isaac?

***


Sadly, we have neglected Isaac's financial training.  The other day Isaac emptied his piggy bank (actually a Noah's ark bank).  He said, "Look!  This one shows Elizabeth!  Queen Elizabeth is on it."  He was quite excited.

***

I've actually done some reading of late.  I read the one to help me cry but it wrecked me.  I definitely cried.  (SPOILER ALERT!  Do NOT read the following if you want to read or see "Light Between Oceans" and be surprised!)  The idea of having to give up your four year old child to let someone else be their mother and the thoughts of what that would do to the child ... and then to read that the child ended up adapting fine and not remembering much of the first four years ....  It's fictional but I can't decide if I should see the movie as the idea of having to go through that is incomprehensible to me.  Why is having my own baby die totally normal to me and not tear-inducing or incomprehensible?

For the same reason I read Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking" and I'm almost finished "Blue Nights" which I needed to read after I found out that her daughter had also died.  "The Year of Magical Thinking" reminded me what I was doing the first year after Josiah's death - thinking and remembering and trying to remember everything, all the time.  It's no wonder I don't have many memories of Kohen as a small child.  Thankfully I look back at photos and some videos and see and remember that he's always been a happy boy (okay, after he stopped his loud crying in the early months - that I cannot forget!)

Didion writes about grief: "We have no way of knowing that the funeral itself will be anodyne, a kind of narcotic regression in which we are wrapped in the care of others and the gravity and meaning of the occasion.  Nor can we know ahead of the fact (and here lies the heart of the difference between grief as we imagine it and grief as it is) the unending absence that follows, the void, the very opposite of meaning, the relentless succession of moments during which we will confront the experience of meaninglessness itself."  No - not for me.  Thankfully, because of Jesus there is meaning and there will be reunion.  There was a purpose.  Good will come out of bad.  I trust in Jesus' love.

I'm also reading, "First, Kill all the Marriage Counsellors" by Laura Doyle.  I'm not thrilled with the title and I haven't read it all so I'm not sure yet what I can and can't take from it (what parts go along with the Bible) but I do know it did a great job explaining the various ways I try to control Graham and thus how I am disrespectful.  I want someone to read it so I can discuss it so I've told a couple of friends about it.  I would love Graham and I and others in my life to be the beneficiaries of me learning to not try to control others.  I'm at least noticing it more when I'm doing it!  I think that's a start.  I would love to be more respectful.

It's good timing to read this book as I am also facilitating the Bible study in our small group tomorrow night on 1 Peter 3 which opens with, "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands."  I fully agree with submission and believe it is a beautiful thing (and easier said than done sometimes) but from reading some of John Piper's sermons on these verses, I see how amazing it is.  Looking at the verses you'll see that it starts with women who hope in God.  Because we hope in God (and thus trust Him), we can be absolutely fearless.  Because we are fearless we don't have to try to control our husbands or have our way all the time but we can do good works and bless our husbands, including submitting to them.  It sounded better in the sermon.  It actually refers to women who "do not fear anything that is frightening (verse 6)."  How incredibly freeing that would be.  I fear lots of things.  In Blue Nights Didion wrote about how after having a child she started to fear so many things (that could possibly hurt that child).  I fully agreed with her ... and then remembered that I shouldn't be afraid of all of those things.  Instead, my hope and my trust needs to be in God.  And my heart says, "Yes, but already three of the seeds of your womb are with God and not with you.   Another could be taken." (That would be me talking in third person about my ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and death of Josiah.)  Job said, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."  I need to set my heart and mind on God who is worthy of praise and can be fully trusted.  This life is such a small dot compared to eternity and its trials don't compare to the joy to come.

Speaking of Job, we've been listening to the audio version of the Action Bible at breakfast time the last few days.  We listened to Job and it didn't seem like Isaac had heard the story before.  I guess it's not usually in Children's Bibles as we have read through lots of Children's Bibles since Isaac was small.  Just listening to the Bible in a different way brings new points alive.

It's great to have Graham home.  He's usually the one to take Isaac to school and pick him up.  He goes with Kohen to the library program and swimming and takes Isaac to his different lessons.  Isaac is really enjoying skating.

Lily-Anna is waking for a feed so I'll post now and add some photos later - hopefully.

Thanks for your prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Isaac's piano playing is inspiring Lily-Anna

1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.  But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."