Monday, December 28, 2009

Wii Sore

My parents blessed us with a Wii this year for Christmas and I am so excited! The hubby and I are enjoying going 10 rounds of boxing a day with each other. I'm the kind of women who loves it when her hubby got her a PSP for Christmas 2 years ago, so this kind of behavior shouldn't surprise you.
I got Wii Fit Plus for myself purely because it looked like fun...not realizing how much work it actually would be! I've exercised every day since we've gotten it and I'm sore in muscles I didn't even know I had! The kids are even enjoying it. I'm hoping they don't get obsessed with the calorie counting side of it...I hope I don't either.
In other news, how do you encourage a fellow wife to follow the Word despite all that her culture deems right? I continue to reiterate, "He's sovereign, He put you together. It won't be easy, but marriage is for both your goods. Obey your husband as long as he lines up with Scripture." How counter-cultural I'm learning that last statement is! That's not what feminist tendencies will tell us and I hate being a product of that movement! I have to fight my learned cultural behaviors!
Just a side note:
Does anyone else realize how insulting it is to the generations of women before us AND the women in other cultures to say that feminism is the system that makes women strong and self-aware?!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

All Satisfying Joy


In the last 8 months I've thoroughly enjoyed podcasts on my Ipod. I've heard the most profound sermons by Spurgeon, Tozer, MacArthur, Washer, Piper, Luther, Chandler and Edwards.


What continues to shine through in their preaching is the all-satisfying joy they have in God. I've been in this place of marveling at His majesty for the last year and really grasping how to see that joy on a daily basis.


It's so simple...yet so contrary to what we want to do. Here it is: preach the gospel of the Glory of God to yourself on at least a daily (if not hourly) basis! Here I was trying to find that lasting joy in methods and encouraging nice words and "me" time and service acts when the whole time it was in front of me!


May you find this eternal satisfying joy in this most blessed month!


This post was written for a contest on a great blog, Barking Mad . Click the link to head to her blog and enter this fabulous and encouraging contest!


Friday, November 27, 2009

Thanks Martin

Just finished reading the history of Martin Luther...all I can say is WOW!!!

What a strong man, who feared God utterly, who valued the Word above the church, who slapped the Catholic church down when it was the only game around, who was often in danger and yet translated the Word into German, who reformed the very way church functioned, who married a woman, who supported him well.

I'm amazed and heartened by all these saints who've gone in front of me.

Makes my own sadness and pain seem so light in comparision.

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do all to the GLORY of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31

Sunday, November 08, 2009

The Role of the Holy Spirit

I don't know about you, but I feel like the Holy Spirit is the least understood aspect of the Trinity. I've been doing some reading and here are some quotes that I came across that helped me out:

"The testimony of the Spirit is more excellent than all reason. For as God alone is a fit witness of himself in his Word, so also the Word will not find acceptance in men's hearts before it is sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit. The same Spirit therefore who has spoken through the mouths of the prophets must penetrate into our hearts to persuade us that they faithfully proclaimed what had been divinely commanded...because until he illumines their minds, they ever waver among many doubts."
-John Calvin "The Institutes"

(In reference to 1 John 5:6-11) "In other words, 'The testimony of God' that is, the inward witness of the Spirit, is greater than any human witness-including, I think the apostle would say in this context, the witness of our own judgement. And what is that testimony of God? It is not merely a word delivered to our judgement for reflection, for then our conviction would rely on our own reflection. What is it then? Verse 11 is the key, 'This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life.' I take that to mean that God testifies to us of his reality and the reality of his Son and of the gospel by giving us life from the dead, so that we come alive to his self-authenticating glory in the gospel. In that instant we do not reason from premises to conclusions; rather we see that we are awake, and there is not even a prior human judgement about it to lean on. When Lazarus wakened in the tomb by the call or the 'testimony' of Christ, he knew without reasoning that he was alive and that this call awakened him."
-John Piper "God is the Gospel"

"Calvin affirms Scripture to be self-authenticating through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. What is this 'inner witness'? Not a special quality of experience, nor a new, private revelation, nor an existential 'decision', but a work of enlightenment whereby, through the medium of verbal testimony, the blind eyes of the spirit are opened, and divine realities come to be recognized and embraced for what they are. This recognition is as immediate and unanalyzable as perceiving of a color, or a taste, by physical sense-and even about which no more can be said than that when appropriate stimuli were present it happened, and when it happened we know it happened."
-J.I. Packer "Calvin the Theologian"

This last quote I just loved, so I'm adding it:

"A pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the church. As if the eternal and inviolable truth of God depended upon the decision of men! ...Yet, if this is so, what will happen to the miserable consciences seeking firm assurance of eternal life if all promises of it consist in and depend solely upon the judgment of men?"
-John Calvin "The Institutes"

Any thoughts?

Contest of the Day

I've read 5 Minutes for Mom for a couple of years now. They have great content and great contests! Check out their Christmas giveaways here: http://www.5minutesformom.com/10606/christmas-giveaway-2009/

Monday, October 12, 2009

Science Stinks

My sweet 2nd grader is tackling the Science Fair this year with the question: "Does a plant grow better if you add sugar to the water?" All in all, a very benign project...my main concern has been how the plants will fare on the kitchen table with it being so cold outside.
That's not my main concern anymore...let me explain.
Both kids were sick all weekend with the flu and I did a lot of laundry. Midway through the weekend, I felt like all I could smell was barf. Then today hit and I could still smell it!!
The smell would surprise me in odd places in my kitchen and living room. Needless to say I was completely grossed out and starting to wonder if I somehow smelled like barf.

Turns out sugar water smells like upchuck.

Let that be a reminder to all you scientists out there...ugh.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Finally Able to Talk About...

...what has been going on for the last 5 weeks. The reason why we desperately needed a vacation and the reason for my silence and withdrawal from many arenas.

On August 20th our pastors informed my husband and I that we were removed from our job of Missions Coordinator. The reason given in that meeting was cited as "philosophical differences" which they did not expound on at the time.

So, this is the letter we e-mailed to everyone that after the announcement was made to the church on September 13th:

Beloved Friends and Family, I begin this letter by calling you all beloved because that is what you have been to us. All of you in some way have supported us over the last four or more years. You have fed us when we were hungry and housed us when we were homeless. Many of you have prayed for us earnestly. Some of you have helped us with monthly needs, and others have helped us travel to more than 10 countries (some of them numerous times). In one way or another, all of you have walked with us as we have sought help Hillside Community Church fulfill its vision by meeting the needs of the congregation at home and missionaries abroad. Through it all, you have provided us with an example of the body of Christ functioning with all of its different parts. For this, we are eternally grateful. While our gratitude will last forever, we have always known that our time at Hillside wouldn’t. I used to wonder what would take us away from our role at Hillside as it was the best job I could have imagined. There is nothing quite like getting paid to do what you love to do. Throughout all of my time at Hillside, I never wanted to be anywhere else. This is one reason why my heart aches as I write this letter. Our time of serving at Hillside in an official capacity has come to an end, yet I still cannot think of anywhere else I would rather be. While this decision was quite sudden and painful, we nonetheless keep our trust in the sovereign Lord who indeed knows for what it is that He draws us away. While we do not know what our future holds, we rest in Him and exult in His ever felt company. We realize that this letter provides you with very little information about our situation. We hope to communicate more with you in the future especially as we begin to turn the page and continue on to the next chapter in our life. In the meantime, please receive our sincere thank you and know that Christ is continuing to make our joy complete even in the most difficult of times. By

His Grace and for His Fame, Jason, Sara, Ruth, and Caedmon

If you've made it this far you may be wondering, "What are those perspectives and philosophical differences?"

Good question.

We are still committed to our church.

We are hurt and confused.

We ask for prayers of wisdom on our part and that we will continue to proclaim His glory until He comes.

Questions?

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Burning Calories Is A Vacation

I haven't said anything on my blog (or really anywhere else for that matter), but life has hit a hug downer in the last month. It's one of those scenarios where the struggle is happening to your family from an outside source, which has the bonus of making your family stronger.

As a result of said struggles we felt the need to get the heck outta town for a couple of days. Thank God that someone gave us a little money and that we can fly for free. We got a hotel 2 blocks from the Strip in Vegas for 3 nights...$80!!!! It's a suite w/ a kitchenette and a great pool. Vegas' financial struggles are to our advantage. If you haven't taken a family vacation to Vegas, I highly recommend it because there's soooo many cool free things to do. Here's a run down of what we've done:
-swam a ton
-visited the lion habitat @ MGM Grand
-gone to M&M World (twice) to see their 3D movie
-watching the fountains @ the Bellaggio
-volcano @ the Mirage
-flamingo habitat @ the Flamingo
-pirate show @ Treasure Island

The exercise has come in through walking to all of these places with the kids in tow. They've been troopers, next to no whining. Also, the awe on their faces at all the bigger than life sites is fun.
I got extra exercise yesterday when I walked 6 1/2 blocks to Albertson's for food...it's paid off though. We've only eaten out 2 meals the whole trip. Sadly we have to head home tomorrow, but it's been nice to get life off of our minds and relax.

Oh yeah, if you're wondering, "Did you gamble??"
Yes, I played $1 in a slot machine (such a stupid invention) and entered a cheap poker tourney. I was out in 30 minutes...mix of crappy cards and nerves.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Falling Short of the Glory of God

For the last three days I have been chewing over a message I heard on Romans 3: 23-26. It is mindboggling to me how many times I can read/hear a portion of word and miss the deep meaning behind the words.

That's how I feel about verse 23, "for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (NASB)
This is the very message that I am realizing that I need to convey in a deep way to my children and my friends.
Sin isn't just "doing something wrong against God"
At its core "doing something wrong against God" is not glorifying Him in my thoughts actions and attitudes!!

This view is why our American culture can hold God so lightly and consider themselves saved!!!

My words are very simplistic on the subject, but if you click the link below you can hear John Piper say it in such a way that it can weigh you and cause you to cry at your lack and His true grace.


The God of Worship

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The First School Year Cold...

...and it was ME who got it. The kids stayed healthy and had a blast at their first week in school.

I'm already realizing that the hours are going to fly by and I might not be nearly as productive as I hoped. But I'm looking at the small things this week and am happy:

-cleaning the living room, uninterrupted
-talking for an hour to Jason, uninterrupted
-eating an ADULT (read veggies) lunch, uninterrupted
-taking a hike on the mesa, for 1 1/2 hours, uninterrupted

If there seems to be a theme to this, there is. A glorious theme of being able to do things 5 days a week like I haven't been able to for the last 7 years.

UNINTERRUPTED!!!!!

Monday, August 17, 2009

And Yet They Cuddle In My Bed

So, I bug bombed the house approximately two weeks ago and was thrilled to see many a dead spider in the aftermath airing and cleaning session. I did it then KNOWING that late August to mid-September is prime wolf spider time around our house.

In that last we I've squished
-2 in my tub
-3 in the kitchen
-1 in the living room
-STEPPED on a large one next to my bed
-AND had one trying to crawl into the crack between the wall and the mattress while I was laying right there

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

Really, I handle most insects fine, maybe it's because of the word "wolf" (my nightmare animal since childhood), but these big, leggy beasts of bite invading my room make me want to flip!

Sigh....

Maybe I'll try to bomb again in a week...get 'em when they're big.

Monday, August 10, 2009

His Influence

My daughter came home from the neighbor's house yesterday upset because her friend had yelled at her. She felt as though the whole world hated her and I assured her it was going to be fine.

"I guess it's for God's glory somehow," she sniffled.

Did my kid just say that? I continue to be touched at how much He is influencing her thoughts. Despite my parenting faux pas and my hormonal swings, despite my rantings and bad examples, He continues to work all of it for His good.

Amazing.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

It Hurtles On

In case YOU didn't notice...it's the last day of July, agh!

Yes, my mommy and college student buddies, school is about to leap upon you like moldy bread when you're craving PB & J. I for one am having a mixed bag of feelings about the whole thing. I'm excited for my kiddos to get some awesome book learnin' and to be able to interact with their school friends. I'm personally giddy to get back to cleaning houses (and the church next month) so that I can have glorious seminary lecture listening on my Ipod.

But, between me and the start of school I get to have some days to myself next week, take a 2 day family vacation to the beach and bug bomb the house.

Anyone ever bug bombed before?

Any advice?

Friday, July 10, 2009

Is It So Much To Ask?

I'm not obsessed with keeping my diet sugar-free because I eat fairly well and don't worry about it.
But I admit that I've tried all of the sugar substitutes...that's because of my addiction to coffee and tea. With that many cups of caffeinated heaven I know I'm consuming more sugar than I want to be in my drinks.
I'm searching for that elusive calorie-free non-sugar that tastes EXACTLY like sugar. You'd think that we'd be advanced enough to have gotten this right by now people! I know some people swear by Splenda and stevia, but both have this funkadelic aftertaste I can't escape. Aspertame is controversial and gives me a stomache ache.
So, I decided to try Truvia (which to me seems to be stevia w/ a different name. Is that true??). I was once again mightily disappointed. Oh yeah, and I'm cranky because of the drawdown in my sugar intake. Blah!

Any thoughts or suggestions? Do you think honey, brown sugar or demerrera sugar is better than the straight white goodness? Anyone else curse the bitterness of the substitutes?

Friday, July 03, 2009

There Is Nothing New Under The Sun

Do you ever look at joys and trials and think, "Hmm, kinda seems like a wheel."
I see both come and go and come back around again. The set of circumstances shift slightly, but they center on the same core issues. I'm having a week where things are circling around again. I'm amazed, looking back, on how much we've learned and thanking Him that He's prepared and sat with us through every turn.

"Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die.
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, 'Who is Lord?'
Or that I not be in want and steal and profane the name of my God.
Do not slander a slave to his master, or he will curse you and you will be found guilty."

Proverbs 30:7-10

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

RIP

We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of some very important members of our family. To the front tree/bush (Stumpy) you provided many a play club and I know you are much happier to not be a confused bush/stump anymore.
To the back dead tree (aka Hammock Holder), thank you for leaving enough of you left so that we can keep enjoying the hammock.
They are survived by Big Boy who continues to keep our A/C costs down and the Black Sheep (a tree that's attacking our telephone pole and serves no purpose other than oxygen production).

Know you will remembered fondly by those little children who counted you shady and useful.

Rest in...wood chips.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Lectures are Fun!

This last week has been hands-down what I look for in a summer...I've done nothing! The kids and I have barely left the house. What have we been doing?
Well...

-I've been reading outdoors and indoors and anywhere in between.
-listened to a plethora of podcasts and lectures (I'm listening to lectures from Reformed Theological Seminary)
-I've played guitar.
-The kids have played with their friends in our yard, our house, the neighbors yard and the neighbor's house.

They've had their moments of being bored, but it doesn't take too long (if I ignore the whining) for them to figure it out.

It's a good thing I've had time to read and listen since I'm teaching my Wednesday group on the subject of canonization of the scriptures. It's an infinately fascinating subject. Amazing how God planned the Word out and has kept it as He wants it for the last 1900 years!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

FIFA Baby!

I don't know if any of you watch soccer...but I came to enjoy it beause of my husband who played soccer through his college years. I still don't understand a lot of the rules or formations, but I can now appreciate a clean, skilled match.

All that to say, did you watch the US vs Brazil today?! What a game! Why can't we play like this all the time?!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

DCLA 2009

If your teens are in LA this week for the DCLA conference tell them to wave at the security team. My hubby's the serious looking one with the beard!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Terminology Overdrive

Is it just me or do we seem to be moving hyperquick through definative words these days? I was struck by this with some religious terminology today. In the early 2000s there was a lot of talk about the seeker-friendly movement and now it seems that this term may be applied to a movement called the emergent church...not sure what the term was before seeker friendly, but it seems like a good applicable word ought to be a part of the common vernacular for more than a decade.
We seem to have national word fads on a yearly basis and I for one cannot keep up...how in the world are you supposed to be conversant and educated if you have to research a new term for a movement every year. Though, I guess in reality, when it comes to philosophy and theology, many of the movements could be called by any number of terms since the time of Christ.
I recommend researching this term "emergent" church. There's also the "emerging" church which is somewhat different...but if you want to be up on the conversation it may behoove you to do the legwork.

Anyone have thoughts on the emergent or emerging movements? I'd love to hear them.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Your Average Ho-Hum Day?

The first part of my day today was highly unusual and enjoyable. My friend Jess (whom I first met when we were babies in the church nursery) was in town with her hubby. They stayed at our house last night and we spent this morning catching up on life. I haven't seen her much since I moved here after high school. I love her steady and deep character and her sense of humor that reminds me so much of my husband.

The latter part of my day had an all-too-familiar hectic hour in it.

It's rent day.

We're short again.

This means I need to try and turn in the rent check in just before the office closes so that hopefully they won't try to cash it until Monday...at which time we'll (God willing) have it covered.

The added white knuckle aspect to driving the 20 minutes to the office today was that the car I was driving had an indecipherable amount of gas...all I could tell is that it was close to empty.

But, God's hand was on us and we made back into Golden before the low fuel light turned on.

That latter part...that's typical. So, I wait with hope to see how God displays Himself in providing for our needs this week.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Quotes of the Day

" I fear there are some who preach with the view of amusing men, and as long as people can be gathered in crowds, and their ears can be tickled, and they can retire pleased with what they have heard, the orator is content, and folds his hands, and goes back self-satisfied. But Paul did not lay himself out to please the public and collect the crowd. If he did not save them he felt that it was of no avail to interest them. Unless the truth had pierced their hearts, affected their lives, and made new men of them, Paul would have gone home crying, 'Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?'...
Now observe, brethren, if I, or you, or any of us, or all of us, shall have spent our lives merely in amusing men, educating men, or moralizing men, when we shall come to give our account at the last great day we shall be in a very sorry condition, and we shall have but a very sorry record to render; for of what avail will it be to a man to be educated when he comes to be damned? Of what service will it be to him to have been amused when the trumpet sounds, and heaven and earth are shaking, and the pit opens wide her jaws of fire and swallows up the soul unsaved? Of what avail even to have moralized a man if still he is on the left hand of the judge, and if still, 'Depart, ye cursed,' shall be his portion?'
-C.H. Spurgeon (great preacher of the nineteenth century)

"The pragmatic philosophy...asks no embarrassing questions about the wisdom of what we are doing or even about the morality of it. It accepts our chosen ends as right and good and casts about for efficient means and ways to get them accomplished. When it discovers something that works it soon finds a text to justify it, 'consecrates' it to the Lord and plunges ahead. Next a magazine article is written about it, then a book, and finally the inventor is granted an honorary degree. After that any question about the scripturalness of things or even the moral validity of them is completely swept away. You cannot argue with success. The method works; ergo, it must be good."
-quoted in John MacArthur's "Ashamed of the Gospel"

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

What's Love Got To Do With It?

I'm a nerdy type person and LOVE to study...so funny that I haven't gone to college yet huh? Yeah, I think it's strange too, but He has His timing. (hopefully His answer won't be "Never" to me)
I've been listening to a lot of theological material recently ( sermons, lectures {go Reformed Theological Seminary Online!} and conversations with various church-related small groups) and I'm coming to the realization that defining your terms is VERY important.
Here's a couple examples of what I mean:

Food-kids think candy, anorexics shudder, addicts salivate, I think of my food favs

Sad- some think pathetic, pet lovers think dead kitten, refugees think of their dead family members and war-torn country

Love- kids think parents always saying "yes", teenagers think constant togetherness or maybe sex, males think sex, females think emotional needs met. 

That last word is one that I've been considering lately. We toss around the phrase "God's Love" often without defining what that means. Why do we do this??? Why do we give people something so profound as the infinite truth of His glorious love with no context and no Biblical definition. 

This was brought to my attention in the passage 1 John 4:7-21. I have always taken the word love in this passage to mean kindness to those around me. But, if you read the passage carefully the love he's talking about is only given to those who are believers (know God). So, it can't be kindness. 
If you look at verse 9 I believe it holds the answer of what Love means. In this passage love refers to God saving those He's written in the Book of Life from deserved death! That realization caused me read the whole passage in a new light. Whew! I would love to go on and on about how cool this passage is, but this post would get very rambly.

I fly home from Nicaragua tomorrow...I've been here visiting Dawn since Sunday. Ah, nothing like flying standby.

This was brought to my attention in my own reading of Scripture a couple of weeks ago. 1 John 4:7-8 is often quoted without context and I've often heard it implied that it means: 

Monday, May 11, 2009

Gone But Hopefully Not Forgotten?

Hey all,

Life keeps getting in the way of me posting. I have so much life that blogging about it would take too much time away from it right now.
Highlights:

-I found out my son get FREE all day kindergarten next year! He's psyched and I'm mixed since I was planning on having him home half day...but, God knew this would happen when He put Caedmon in that school, so I trust it's the right choice.
-This means I could clean more houses (again mixed feelings) and I could stop being a lazy parent and maybe start volunteering around my kid's awesome school.
-Might be going to Nicaragua next Sunday-Thursday to see our one missionary that's still down there.
-I finally got our clothesline up! (woo hoo!) But the posts aren't in solidly enough yet to hang many clothes on it. (boo!)


That's all for now...how are you? I miss hearing from you my lurkers!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Thoughts

Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be please with it and be glorified," says the Lord. "You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the Lord of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.
-Haggai 1:7-9 (great book of the Bible, BTW)

Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote. Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed."
-Isaiah 29:13-14 (also quoted partially in Matthew 15:8-9)

Friday, April 24, 2009

Mrs. Clean

I'm a funny cleaner...not like I make people chuckle when I clean, but I'm quirky. I attribute this to getting married and having kids. When I was a kid I spent hours organizing my room...a place for everything and everything in its place. But my kids and husband don't seem to be wired that way...and since I love them more than I do a perfect house I've fallen into some interesting middle ground. That means I love it when the house is clean, but it may take 2 weeks to get that way if other family/life things take priority.



This gets even weirder because I clean houses as a side job. I'm really good at it and I think it's a good outlet for my neat side. Hmm, maybe my house would be cleaner if I didn't get my jollies cleaning other houses??



Anyway, my system is simple: start on the highest surface and work my way down to the floor. I also do tile floors before carpet so that I can vacuum while the tile's drying. I'm the worst at windows and mirrors...why can't they come with built in wipers?!



My cleaning advice is this: clean when you can, but make sure it doesn't own you!



This post was written for the weekly Blog Blast for the Parent Bloggers Network who is teaming up with Pledge this week to ask bloggers how they deal with cleaning! Go check it out and write your own post for a chance to win a prize!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

A Castle Without Its King

Two days...two days until my husband ought to be back in Colorado. I'm tired...this trip has been hard for me.
I want him here with me.
I don't like single parenting.
I don't like him not being near the internet and phone.
How in the world did missionary wives manage when their spouse would leave on a boat for a year with a sporadic letter?! Argh!
My son is going through a phase of lying and I hate being the stern one. Jason is much better at it than I am.
I do get extra lovings from both kids though since they only have one parent to dole it out to.
You know you love your husband when a friend describes an argument she had with her hubby and you wish your hubby were hear to fight with!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Where's the Snow???

Greetings from quasi-snowy Denver. Just once I'd like the weather people to get it right. They predicted a couple of feet of snow by today. BUT they didn't account for the wetness of said snow. It's been raining for half the 2 day snow and the accumulation is disappointing and soaking. Good for the ground, bad for playing.
I can't complain too much because my hubby was able to fly out for Uganda today since the weather wasn't back. I'm a little nervous about this trip because the area he'll be in will be so remote. I won't hear from him much (if at all) between now and next Friday.
Pray for my sanity this week...I expect it go well though since I have the church Women's Retreat to look forward to next weekend.

How are you??

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Home, A Day Late & a Couple Hundred Dollars Short


Sorry I haven't updated you on our travels...lots of laundry and catching up on life has kept me hopping. The title of this post sums up the end of our trip.

The flights into Denver were full, so we bid the team a fond goodbye in Atlanta and flew to my in-law's house in Nashville. This actually made for a very enjoyable detour and we made it home the next day with no incidence... hence, the day late part of the post.

And now, the part where God displays His infinite wisdom and ability to be over all. We mailed the rent check in hoping they wouldn't deposit it before we got home because we weren't even close to having enough to cover it. When we stopped at my in-laws I checked the account and they'd deposited it! Thanks be to the Author, the bank took the check!!! We owed the bank a small overdraw fee, but it was an answer to not getting evicted. God also provided all the money we needed for rent this week and to be back on the positive side of our bank balance.

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about yourl life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink: nor for your body as to what you will put on. Is not life more that food, and the body more than clothing? ... for your heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matt. 6:25, 32b-33

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Update

We are 3 days into being with our friends in Nicaragua...my kids are learning a lot:
-how to make sure a high boy doesn't invade their bubble
-how to still love said high boys and let him get hugs sometimes
-how to walk all day and still have energy for running around in the evening.
-how to (ever so slightly) expand their eating horizons
-how to sleep in the same twin bed and enjoy cold showers. 

It's been great to be able to give our friend's 4 kids some playmates. I truly think that may be the predominant reason that I'm here. Also, I feel pretty cool because this is the only language that I have kicked butt in. It's nice to see my hubby be the one to smile and nod while I translate. hee hee! Gracias Senora P y Senora from Brazil who taught me everything I know.

Now to update you on what God's doing for provision. The project will continue to run as long as there's funds and it's looking like the church might pull through on that front. We called my sis and told her to mail in the rent check...we still don't have it, but the worst that can happen is that we'll be evicted. I'm prepared for whatever may come. I admittedly panicked for an hour today before my brain convinced my emotions of the truth: I have no control over what happens, my job is simply to lean into the one who lifts up mountains and causes countries to diminish.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Shnow

We here in the Denver area were lambasted by a spring snow on Thursday and it's finally melting today. It was glorious and so needed for the water table here. I spent 2 hours outside yesterday helping the kids build a couple of snow forts. I LOVE building snow forts... things like that you tend to forget in your adulthood. 

I'm all packed for Nicaragua tomorrow... no money for rent, for our trip or (apparently) any money for the project down there to run past next week. Do I doubt God in this... so far I haven't. We'll see how I feel the rest of the week. 

Please, continue to lift up the glue boys, our friends involved in the project and the team that's going down there. I'll keep you posted.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Overseas We Go

The hubby, kids and I are going down to Nicaragua next Sunday with 3 other people from our church. We'll be visiting our worship pastor, his family and my friend Dawn, who have been down there for the last year working to clean up some of the street kids who are addicted to sniffing glue.
We need around $1,500 to cover our expenses and rent by next Sunday. Jason and I just today were chuckling about it because this is one of the many times that we've sat in this place. It's a place we've become familiar and slowly more comfortable with. The reason I pass this information on to you is twofold:

1. We could use your prayer for the trip to go well and that His glory would be seen through the actions of the team and the Body in general.

2. So that you all can see the hand of God in the way that He continues to sustain us. That may mean we DO NOT get the funds we need to cover our expenses. But I do know that either scenario will be to further His glory. In that, pray for wisdom for us and a right response.

If you'd like to hear my husband's desires you can read his post here.

Maybe the Militias Are on to Something

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!! And I have been wretched! I spent the precious time I was given yesterday watching a depraved TV show...I'm not making a blanket statement about all TV shows mind you. Some are fine, but THIS one, was awful! Yet, it took me 2 hours to stop watching it. Shall I go on sinning so grace may increase??? May it never be!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I've never been all about the End Times or being really a doomsday type. But with all that's been going on, the end of America is something that has become a part of my thought process. What I find interesting in my discussion about this with other believers is their comment is usually, "Psh, America deserves it! Look what has happened to this great nation! It isn't a Christian nation anymore!"
While I agree with the sentiment, I'm concerned with the focus. If Christians are admitting that they've bought into the American dream as much as the next guy and SWANDERED what He's given us, then we missed something. I fully admit that in our marriage, our focus manhy times is on our own selfish gains. Here is this world of people starving physically and spiritually and He gave us the resources to help them. How much of my resources have I used for His glory? How much of your resources have you used for His glory??? How much of His resources have we dumped down the crapper for our own comfort?!

Thoughts?

Friday, March 20, 2009

Betcha Didn't Know...

...I love entering contests. Kidding, if you don't know that by now, you've never seen nor heard from me. The wonderful lady over on Barking Mad is holding another great contest. She asked us to spill something that no one knows and I've been wracking my brain to think of something that would fit...I'm a pretty open person, so most people know even the unusual things about me. So, I'm giving you two, the first being one that many (but not all) of my friends know and then second, something out there:

1. I used to sychronize swim. For four years starting in jr. high I swam for a synchronized swimming team in Montana. I also admit that I still like to do some of the moves when I'm the deep end of a pool.

2. I have a pretend split-personality named Igor! I loved to try my friends crazy in high school by hunching my back and cheerfully lisping, "Yeth Mathstur!" I don't pull him out often unless I'm talking to my sister or I want to make my youngins think mommies gone nuts.

Phew, so glad I got that off my chetht...I mean chest.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

White Trash Happiness

I'm currently typing from a VERY comfy, overstuffed recliner that's in our carport. Eeee!!!
Does it look tacky?? Of course.
Do I care?? Nope
This was the solution to me wanting to be outside while the kids are playing, but cursing the plastic chairs we had out there.

In other news, it looks like whole family might be headed to Nicaragua over Spring Break. We haven't taken our son out of the country since a hellish trip to Turkey around his 1st birthday. The fact that he's now 5 should make a difference, plus he doesn't have to even deal with changing time zones.

I'm excited to go see the street boys and my dear friend Dawn who's been their teacher.

Question of the Day: Can spiritual revivals still happen in the western world? Do you see any leaders rising up that may start a revival? Thoughts?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Quote of the Day

"If He should determine to do so, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust." -Elihu (Job 34:14-15)

Sunday, March 08, 2009

I Dreamt...

...of the fall of America. It didn't go well and I woke up wanting to buy more ammunition for my birthday. Seriously, are we ready if it all fell apart next month?
Jason sees weekly how irrational and erratic people get when they miss a flight or something gets canceled. Do you really think all those people would take the loss of their work, finances and sense of control well???

Friday, March 06, 2009

Someone Steal Our Cars!

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know about our struggle with our cars. We have 4 cars from the 90s that seem hell bent on making sure only 2 of them run at a time.
Around Christmas we had the "nice" car (1991 Lincoln Town Car) fixed from its stuttering problem. Yeah, it started stuttering badly again today. So, I'm currently risking my sanity driving our Buick Regal with the busted up front and a chronic coolant issue. One car is down (possibly for good) and the hubby has to take the Rodeo (the only quasi-dependable car right now) to the airport for work 35 miles away.

Honestly, the timing was impeccable...we have other big things happening in our life right now that are leaving us spiritually and emotionally drained. Throw in car issues and I'm living off of a stress sandwich today.

Here's the cool part: Jason and I are doing really well right now as a family and I know God is holding us in His hands. Yes, I'm freaking out emotionally, but it's nice to know that the reality is God allowed the cars to have issues. Therefore, what have I to freak out about?

I'm a great sitter, I swear!

Yesterday morning Caedmon (my 4 yr old) and I got up at 5:30am so that we could go over and watch a friend's kids for 4 hours. They have 5 kids ranging from 12 to 3 and part of my job was to get the 2 oldest to their respective schools. Everything went smoothly until I tried to start their van. I spent a couple of panicked minutes fiddling with the key until the 10 yr old showed me the special trick to get it turned. I dropped him off and was on my way to drop off his older sister when I can to a four way stop.
I did a California stop...with a cop staring right at me.
All the kids thought it was great fun to have me get pulled over. God saved my butt though...the cop came back with my license and said, "It's your lucky day, I forgot my ticket book back at the station."

So, yes, I am the best babysitter in the whole world.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Ahhhhhhhh

Praise be to the One who is in control of flights...He got my hubby home to me safely and 8 hours earlier than we thought he would be home.
Needless to say, my world seems a little brighter today now that he's sitting back in his office again.

Thank you God!

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Yes, It's Late...

...and I'm up still because I have a helluva time falling asleep when Jason's gone. When he's here, I get irritated with him crowding me in bed. But, when he's gone, I'm so sad to lay down in the bed alone.

This trip has been amazing for both of us...he's doing exactly as he's told by the One in charge. And I'm getting to do the same thing here. Hey, have you ever told your kid's the story of Satan's fall from heaven? Why don't we tell them the meaning behind it all?

Also, a friend asked me this week why we took all the sad endings out of fairy tales nowadays. My instinct was to say it was a good thing, but is deluding our kids into thinking that life is easy such a good thing?

Friday, February 27, 2009

My Five

Barking Mad is first and foremost a great blog to read. Secondly, it's a blog chock full of fun contests. Her current contest asks readers to compile their top five blog posts (aka the one's that represent them the best). Talk about a fun task. I enjoyed looked back at my own craziness. So, here they are:

1. Are Big Words Genetic?
2. What If...
3. Lesser Addiction
4. Generation Gap
5. Money Doesn't Make the World Go Round

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Quote of the Day

"O how we need in the church today spiritual leaders with passion for the truth of Christ! We need logic on fire, truth aflame with zeal, the light of sound reason and the heat of strong love for God's glory. Where are the people—young and old—in whom the gospel of the glory of Christ burns like a fire in your bones? The person burdened with a word from the Spirit of God finds no relief until he speaks it." -John Piper www.desiringgod.org

Sunday, February 22, 2009

What Truth did Elisabeth Elliot grasp?

"Behold, these are the FRINGES of His ways, and how a faint a word we hear of Him!"
Job 26:14

I've been having a blast with life for the last couple of months. "Why," you may ask. Through my husband's conversations with others and my own time in Job I feel like I have grasped, to a deep level, a great foundational truth of life. Here it is:

Everything that happens is to glorify God.

It's simple, it's amazing and it can be so profound. This has given me such confidance in Him and all He asks of us (as a family) and us (as a Body).

In all of Jason's overseas travel, I've waffled with acceptance, selfishness, whineyness, and anger over when/what He asks of our family. But in my current understanding of God, I can finally worshipfully accept whatever He asks of us. If this means that this is the trip that sends Jason to death or prison...I am okay with because it's to HIS GLORY. It doesn't mean I'm heartless, nor that I wouldn't be mournful, but I understand it all now.

I know I'm not explaining myself very clearly right now, but I hope to continue to show you my heart in these posts.

Please pray for Jason as he and a friend travel to Thailand today. Jason will be flying back to us on March 2nd.

May we be covered in the dust of Him who calls us.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Beat Freaks

I love watching my kids revel in their sugar and brightly colored cards from class parties. What a sweet holiday for my kids. It is funny to watch my daughter and realize that as soon as next year she could get actual love notes from boys in her class.

She is still apparently the proud owner of 2 boyfriends...though one only likes her and she doesn't like him.

In TV news, I'm completely digging the Beat Freaks and Quest Crew on America's Best Dance Crew. A week ago I was glued to the computer as I burned through all the episodes of the 3 seasons. I have this crazy personality where I will run hard after a topic I like w/ music, books, TV, etc until I feel like I've exhausted it. I'm a passionate person, most definately...This can be really unfortunate when there are other subjects that rightly should have more importance and weight.


My back is whack right now because it's been weeks since I've been to the chiropractor (we're blessed with one who does it for free), weeks since I've found time to exercise, weeks since the hubby and I have been able to connect for any length of time and my hormones are off base.
There, that's my quick lament.

Some interesting things are happening spiritually. Hubby had God speak his name audibly and wake him up. There was a vision brought out during prayer about my hubby. Weird! He's flying a friend to Thailand in a week and we're wondering if this is about that or if it has to do with other exciting shifts in my hubby's growth in God. Hmmm..

How are you???

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Mopey Muppets

My son, my sweet son...how I want to hang you by your toes!
This kid has been on such a whining streak! Nothing in his life is good enough and it's all against him and his world is shattered daily by how sucky his life is! Poor 4 year old...boo hoo.
As you can see, I have no sympathy right now for him...he's got plenty of toys and electronics to entertain him. He can eat and chill and not work too hard.
Oh to be back in the days where the worst thing to happen in ones life was boredom!

The other problem I'm having with him is that he won't talk to me! My daughter expresses her feelings so that we can talk through it, but he clams up and won't talk to me about what's bugging him...Agh!

In other news, still missing my hubby. We're in this really busy phase in life right now where I really don't get to see him much. He has this great guy friend who was out of town for awhile and is now back. That's nice, but now I have to share my husband again and it causes me to pout. We only have Tuesday evenings free to even see each other any more.
So, I guess I know where my son got the whining from. :0)

Friday, February 06, 2009

8 Years Ago...

...yesterday, I eloped with my sweet hubby! We were 18 and 20, following God toward the altar. We went to the Denver County Courthouse and the ceremony cost us a whopping $10! We went up to the mountains in our wedding finery and said our vows in front of He brought us together.
In honor of those crazy 8 years, here is:

8 Things I Love About Jason

1. His deep hunger to refine and grow in his knowledge of God
2. He cares fiercely for our missionaries and fulfilling the Great Commission.
3. He's wise and only shares his opinion when it really counts.
4. He takes life as it comes, trusting Him to take care of us (I'm getting there).
5. He's hot and has this amazing dimple on his cheek...I haven't seen it in a couple years because of his beard.
6. He loves me and strives to keep our relationship right.
7. He loves our kids and wanted to be a dad even before we met.
8. I LOVE that God, in His amazing power, gave me exactly what I needed in Jason!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Latest Addiction

I avoid MTV...I usually find that there's nothing that even remotely interesting in their programming. BUT, they are currently showing "America's Best Dance Crew" which I LOVE. I secretly always wanted to take dancing lessons as a kid...but never did. I took swing lessons in high school with a friend and loved it and my fav workout DVD is Carmen Electra's dance aerobics. So, I watch the show on MTV in amazement at the team's skills. You have to go online and watch the fitness test episode. They've got some amazing cloggers (I kid you not!) that are tearing it up. There's a girls group (Beat Freaks) that I think are great.

Anyone else watching this show? Thoughts?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

I'm Picking Up No Vibrations

I'm going on day 4 of being without a phone...somewhere between the car and the house, it disappeared into the mountain of snow. I don't really mind not having a phone except:
-I don't know anyone's phone number
-I never know what time it is when I'm out and about
-The check engine light is on in the blue car and I'm waiting for it to die while I'm driving it.
So, my crappy $25 phone has bit the dust and taken my SIM with it to it's frigid grave.

Other than THAT my life is a little slice of theologically challenging sunshine! We're staying super busy and meeting with a lot of different groups during our normal week, but it's all great. You ever get those moments in your church when you feel a breeze of God-driven change stirred up. I believe we're feeling it.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Look at the Birds of the Air

Those of you who know me know I'm a low key person. I'm one who likes to keep it simple. As a result, I try to live a life that's well balanced. What does that look like?

Well, I try to get up early to either exercise.Exercise definately helps my overall outlook on my day by boosting the positive chemicals in my brain and body.

I know my limitations of busyness in my life and make sure that I stay within my limits of commitment.

I continue to pursue those things I love: guitar, reading non-fiction, video games.

There seems to be way too much pressure that we put on ourselves as women to be on top of everything...the house, kids, job (in or out of home) and interacting well with the hubby. I truly believe that studying the Word keeps my focus on what's really going on and (usually) keeps me from freaking out over things that aren't mine to be concerned about. I continue to come back to Matthew 6:24-34...I mean really can we add an hour to our life by being worried? No!

So, for me, I've found that keeping Him and His way central to my days keeps me balanced and (mostly) worryless. (hey, I wouldn't be female if my emotions didn't take over occasionally!)

*This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as a part of a sweepstakes sponsored by BOCA. *

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mentally Worked Over

Those of you who know me, know that I LOVE to dig into a subject. I'm shocked that up until a month ago, I had no idea what Arminianism was and that it was in opposition to Calvinism. My brain has been dwelling on such fun stuff and I've been doing so much research. It's great!

As someone who thinks it's stupid to take your Life laying down I'm guilty of not shoring up my own thoughts on things like limited atonement. I also think this has been fun because the hubby and I are able to have mind stretching conversations. It drives him nuts that I hold to some contrary thoughts. But where would the growth be if we all thought the same thing?!

All that to say, I'm totally neglecting my Wednesday group study of Job...we're halfway through and I'm tired of the same jerky ignorance by Job's friends. I hope I'd never be so harsh to a friend who has sores with worms living in them. Just hoping.

In other news, the hubby is currently down in Nicaragua for 5 days doing is mission's guy thing. Soooo, the kids are watching lots of TV so that mummy can keep her sanity! Props to my friend Michelle for giving me a break and thanks to Lanell and Bink for giving me grown up talk!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Brain Candy or Necessary Strengths?

Loving my life right now. I just came back from B-town after going to April's wedding. This is someone who I've known for a long time...really the first wedding I've been to where I felt such a deep satisfaction and joy at the union. Not that the other weddings I've been to haven't been right, but this is someone who I know well. Makes me wish I hadn't missed my Jess's wedding a year ago. I had no idea weddings could make me this happy. Okay, okay, enough gushing.
The other recent life bonus has been this crazy weekly time where the hubby and I get together with a couple other people and tackle the deep Biblical questions and the brain candy questions.
Questions like:

Free will and predestination

Scriptural canonization

Armenianism and Calvinism

This is something I love doing because it's what gets me digging into the Bible and really getting to know what matters. It's something I wish we could do with every believer and in big groups...but both those settings can cause problems like: misunderstandings, schisms, lost faith, etc. I have a real beef with education...why the hell does a religous education cost more than a normal education when it's so important??? I want to go to seminary and learn, but I have to spend four years doing something else first. That's why I read so much, I hunger to learn these things (some of it I have) and do what I can about it.

It's also had the fun offshoot of causing the hubby and I to spend time searching the Bible during the day. Sigh, though admittedly, I'm still an extremely lazy person and get distracted from Real life by any number of TV shows, crappy fiction or video game. Ack!

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Fascinating, in an Annoying Sort of Way

Hormones are amazing things...I wish I could describe to males in a definative way how it can change our view of things from day to day. Some innocuous comment one week is liable to piss us off or make us cry the next.
Yet, when I see how matter of factly men take things I'm glad that we're different. I'm glad there's one who is less emotional and more emotional...most situations call for a little bit of both.

These thoughts rumble around today as my stinking hormones dip me in a little funk, one I know full well will disappear in 2 days for no reason other than the cycle.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Cockroaches & Barf

The current barfiness makes me a very lucky girl...and I'll tell you why: this is the 1st barfing my son has done in the last 2 1/2 years! Woo hoo! Also, it only last for 10 hours and seemed to be food related and not actually an illness.

Onto the unlucky news: I believe we have cockroaches! Agh! I found one on my floor yesterday and everyone tells me that if I see one, then there's enough in my house to rival the national debt number. So, I was getting a little worked up about it envisioning us having to vacate for weeks will the nasty little, nuclear blast surviving bastards could be squashed. Then I did som research and it sounds like there some traps and sprays I could buy at the store that could take care of it.
Also, these cockroaches aren't the hand-sized monsters that live in Turkey and (I've heard) the South.

Anyone tried the store stuff? What works for you?