Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Lent Begins.

Today marks the beginning of Lent.

A season to stop, reflect and repent.

40 days to prepare for Easter.

I need this time.  My heart needs prepared.

For the next 40 days, my children and I will start with daily reading for Lent from BibleGateway.com

Then, I am excited to do this and this with my family.  Will share all that we did after Easter. 

May our hearts prepare for the JOY to come!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Gift


Learning.  Making messes.  Growing.

Today?

I like homeschool.

What a gift.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

New.







Tonight we celebrated love.

Congrats M and J!  We love you and are excited to cheer you into the next chapter.




My Love.

Happy Love Day.

~Our Story~

In 1990 I met the love of my life, I was 11.

It was the Annual Country Fair and I had my sow and piglets on display for the public.  Who doesn't love that?

It was there, that we met.  I actually remember the moment and the bale of hay I was sitting on.  [I currently can't remember where I put my phone, purse or keys but I can remember that bale of hay.  weird]

We spent every second together at that fair and continued "going out" after.  

I had known his family and he had known mine but we did not really know each other until that point.

I remember my mom coming home one day, telling me Justin's grandpa had paid her a visit at work.

He told her how our families go back generations.

My grandpa was a young preacher man in Mitchell, OR.  His grandpa was younger and part of a beautiful, yet very poor family there.

My grandpa would pick his grandpa (and brother) up for church every Sunday and at one point the brothers lived with my grandparents.  

Justin's grandpa loved and respected my grandpa so much that when he got married he told his new bride that he wanted to name their first two children the same names that my grandpa had used for his children.

Therefore both of our fathers are named David, named one after the other.  We both have Auntie Loretta's. :)


Justin and I continued to "go out" [we never really went anywhere]. 

We did attend all the football games and on my 12th birthday he was my first kiss.

Once summer was over and school began Justin's father decided we were too far apart in age (2 1/2 years).

I was crushed.  I was devastated. 
[now that I have a 12 year old I would make the same judgement call - so I forgive you Dad V. :)]

Justin and I went our separate ways and I rarely saw him in high school.  I never forgot that summer and always considered him my "first love."

Fast forward through other boyfriends and his girlfriends, a lot of life, some good some really bad.

I had just graduated from high school, Class of 1997 and was preparing for college.

One of my girlfriends was getting married and I was attending it alone. and I was late [surprise].  Apparently Justin had asked one of his buddies (an usher) to seat a "good lookin' girl" next to him.  I ran in late, trying to hurry to a seat, and although I had pointed to my group of friends I was not about to argue with the usher.

It was just Justin and I in the row (I think, or at least it felt like it).  We chatted for a moment, I asked him how his girlfriend was, he said that she was not.  He asked me about my boyfriend, I said the same.  hu.  That got the wheels turnin'. :)

From that moment on, we were inseparable.

We knew within weeks that this was it.

We both had to change some plans and for me that was the first time I really heard from the Lord. 

I had been accepted to travel with Up With People and I had to take the matter before the Lord.  He clearly spoke and I stayed.

Thanksgiving of 1997, in front of my family, he asked me to marry him.



I said yes.

It was after he asked, and we were driving back to college, that I told him about the vision God had given me at the wedding where we were seated next to each other.

For a split moment I saw us standing up there, getting married.

To my surprise, God had given him the same exact same vision.

We were in awe.

The date was set.  June 13th.

I remember fearing that I would be so nervous that I would not be present.



I was present.

I heard every.word and when I said them, I meant them.  

Communion before the Lord sealed the deal.


Two became one.



13 1/2 years later, 6 kids added and many changes behind us, I still mean those words.  In fact I mean them more.

Our marriage has not been perfect.

We have had our share of learning to pour out and receive much grace.

We both have had to learn what marriage is, according to God, who designed it.

So far, marriage and the very breathing thing it is, has been (next to my relationship with God) the biggest part of my life.

I am so thankful for this man God gave me.

I respect him so.

I have seen him grow in the Lord tremendously.  I have seen God use him mightily and have been loved by him much.

I do not know what the next 40 years hold.  None of us do, but I am ever so thankful for these past 13 1/2 years of learning, loving, laughing and growing with my love.





Sing Praises

Psalm 30:4

English Standard Version (ESV)

 4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, 
   and give thanks to his holy name.


Monday, February 13, 2012

I want a tattoo.

Actually I want 3:

ὑπομένω

This is greek for Hupomeno.

Definition:

  1. to remain
    1. to tarry behind
  2. to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee
    1. to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ
    2. to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments


There are so many times I want out of a situation.

But God clearly calls us to endure to.the.end and through the through He refines us making us more like His son.  Life may, no, it will get HOT, uncomfortable, confusing, painful but God calls us to stay put.  Bear up under.  I need this reminder daily. 

#2:

Abide

Jesus said:

John 15:5

English Standard Version (ESV)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Yes and Amen.  I must abide in Him.

#3:

δοῦλος

doúlos (a masculine noun of uncertain derivation) – properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, 1401 /doúlos ("bond-slave") is used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.

Our friend, who #5 is named after, talked about getting this one.  He never did, but he made me think a lot about this.

I am not a male but I am a slave to Christ, yet I am very free.  Doulos.





Thursday, February 9, 2012

~playing with my blog.  sister taught me how to make pictures bigger. :)  Isn't he cute and so funny?~

sent. assessed. advised.

Hubby and I were blessed to be sent by our church, and fellowship, to Denver, CO for a leadership assessment.  I had no idea what this really was but now have walked away blessed, filled and further directed.  
We arrived to a very snowy Denver.  Absolutely beautiful.
Then, drove straight to someones house that I have wanted to meet for 3 years!
Meet Shonnie.  She has been a mentor to me, specifically in the ways of adoption, since before we brought Isaiah home.  I felt so blessed to hug her neck and and spend a night in their home. 

Our #1 and #6 tagged along and were able to spend some time with this wonderful family.  #1 took awhile to warm up but in no time, made fast friends.

We share the same heart for serving Our Jesus into the world of adoption.  Hubby and I respect them so and loved our time of fellowship.
There are few that share this unique call.  What a blessing to hear their hearts and glean from their wisdom.  Not to mention all the laughter.  [we love you S and S - thank you for opening your home and heart]


After being filled up with love and great friendship we headed to Boulder for the assessment.  On the way we saw some ginormous bucks.  This made Hubby very happy.  Very.

As we followed the freeway it came into view……. The Denver Broncos Stadium.
Hubby LOVES the Denver Broncos [and loves loves loves Tim Tebow - I admit he seems to be a great guy ;)].  With these events alone, this was the making of an amazing trip. :)

Baby enjoyed the constant attention and adventure.
I have been trying to come up with words to explain this leadership assessment.

A few other couples and many assessors gathered together under the banner of Jesus to further His kingdom.

Proverbs 15:11 says "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers plans succeed."


We were there with many wise advisers.  Words can not describe how blessed I felt that they would take time out of their busy schedule to get to know us, the gifts and abilities God has given, hear our call to ministry and then speak into our lives.  


Hubby and I walked away from this experience:  humbled.  understanding ourselves better.  encouraged.  can I repeat that one?  very encouraged.  confirmed in some areas the Lord was already prompting.  and understanding some areas we need to pursue for growth.




#1 hung out in the nursery with #6, they had a great time.




On our way home #1 requested a little stop.

I wanted to go here but refrained:
Instead joined in on this:

I love him.
Look at #6's face.
Mmmm...
Time to go home.  Baby in the sling and off we flew.


There is so much more I could write about our experience and what the Lord showed us.  I am sure I will record the "side effects" as our journey continues.

God is good, people.

He loves us.

He uses us.

He is worthy of all our hearts, all our strength and all our lives.  For, in Him, there is life.


Friday, February 3, 2012

ginkgo biloba?

I have a problem.

I keep forgetting everything.  Stuff.  Not the children - thank the Lord!  But things.  Everywhere I go lately.

Last Friday I left my purse at a restaurant.  Saturday I left my phone in a grocery store.  Wednesday I left my purse AND the diaper bag at church and then today I was at my hairdressers (with the 3 littlest) and I was gathering my munchkins, saying by to all the ladies and started to walk out, without paying!  How embarrassing.  Luckily my hairdresser is my friend but still.  THEN, I go to Wal-mart.  I was in a hurry to pick the 3 big ones up from guitar and quickly loaded up the littles, started to jump in the driver seat and the sweetest old couple walked by and said "Is this yours?" - as in my cart with all my stuff?  Uh!  "Yes, yes, it is!"  I rambled on about loosing my mind and how grateful I was that they walked by at that moment.

*sigh*

My solution?

I am never leaving the house again.

The end.