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)

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!

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!

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??

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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)

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???

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.

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!

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?

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

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

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.