You Capture: Joy

This weeks You Capture challenge is "Joy". At first I thought about taking pictures of my kids and husband. Obviously they bring me much joy. However, I really wanted to capture the thing that brings me a deeper, fuller joy then anything else in life....that would be my walk with my Lord. I find such joy in spending time in His Word. When I am able to rise early in the morning before my children, I brew a pot of coffee and sit in the quietness of the of the new day at my Saviors feet.

This is my chair...my quiet little corner of the house.

One of my favorite passages highlighted in the Psalms.

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; in thy right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11 NASV

Head on over to Beth's blog to check out how others captured joy.

Wordless Wednesday-silly

Ryan being silly with a pair of Claire's tights.

You Capture: Letters

This weeks You capture challenge is "Letters".

Bill and I took the kids to a new park around here, last week. One of the things that is so great about this park is that it is for everyone!

Here is Claire walking along a structure. Not the best picture, but I had to include it because I love the brightly colored alphabet.

This is one of my favorites! I love the Braille wall that they have.

Touching the "C" for Claire.

Head on over to Beth's blog I should be Folding Laundry and check out the other amazing pictures!

Wordless Wednesday-Friends

Ryan and his friend Ella walking to the park.

The path ahead

I have been meaning to finish the rest of what I started writing back in February. Whoa I can't believe It has been 2 months already. It amazes me how time flies. I wanted to sit down and finish my thoughts a few days after I posted the first part here. You might want to go back and refresh yourself with that post if this one doesn't make sense. :)

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In order to explain where God is leading us now (for those who don't already know) I need to go back in time just a little bit...

Bill and I lived in Michigan the first 6 months of our marriage while He finished his schooling at New Tribes Bible Institute. After his graduation we moved back here to get involved in the church that he grew up in (the church that we are still currently apart of). Our intention was for this to be our sending church. We worked in the church for about 6 months. We had all our paperwork filled out, and were even penciled in to go to the missions training school (with New Tribes) in August of 2001. All we were waiting on was a recommendation from our Pastors. I still remember clearly the day we met with our Pastors to get what we thought would be their approval to move on. However, we were given the news that they were not going to send us. After much prayer they felt that it wasn't the right time for us to go. They wanted us to get more involved in our church before we went on.

I think we both felt shocked and a little dizzy...we never saw that coming. We both loved and respected our pastors so much and trusted that the Lord, for whatever reason had led them to this decision. Honestly it didn't make much sense to us, but we trusted them and the Lord's leading.

After about a year and half had gone by and we were involved heavily in the church...we came to a crossroads. Our church still had not decided to send us on. Bill was having trouble keeping a job without having any degree (other than a Bible degree). We prayed about it, not knowing if God was ever going to let us go. We came to the decision that Bill needed to go back to school. We were unprepared to have a back up plan, but it appeared that now one was needed.

This was a hard decision for both of us to make. That meant even if the Lord lead us back to overseas missions, it was going to be a very long time before that ever happened. It also meant that quite possibly we would never go. My heart broke. Was the Lord really asking us to lay aside our dreams of how we thought we were to serve Him...and just trust Him? We had peace about Bill going back to school.

To make a long story short after several years Bill finally had a degree. Over the next few years Bill had many ups and downs with jobs. We had some really tough times. It just seemed that he was never going to get anything permanent. Finally a ray of hope came and he was offered what he thought at the time would be his dream job. Well as most of you know that dream shattered and ended on a bad note...for no reason it seemed. Bill was once again without a job. Of course unknowingly to me God was working in the midst of this with a plan that was far bigger then I could have seen.

After loosing job after job, God laid it on Bill's heart that this was not the direction our family was to be going anymore. Bill came to me one evening in November and said that He believed after much prayer that God wanted us to pursue missions once again. It's hard to describe the emotions I felt at that moment. I was surprised, but not so surprised. I was excited and then extremely sad and overwhelmed. But I KNEW the second that Bill told me what God had been impressing on His heart that this was it. I just knew it was right. It just made sense. I had not not seen my husband so full of life and joy as I did at His realization of what God wanted us to do. I knew that God had been preparing my heart for something for months, I just hadn't expected it to be this. I had not not seen my husband so full of life and joy as I did at His realization of what God wanted us to do.

We have prayed about this step as a couple. This is a HUGE life changing decision and not one we took lightly. We sought the counsel of wise men. We went to our Pastors. We talked to the missions committee at our church. We contacted New Tribes Mission. Over the last 5 months God has done some pretty amazing things on our behalf...and He has made it so clear this time that this is what He wants.

So what does this all mean? Well, in less then 4 months we will be packing up our family and leaving this place we have called home for the past 8 and a half years, and headed to another state to complete our training with New Tribes mission. We will be there for 1 to 2 years. This whole thing still seems so surreal to me. I feel such a range of emotions. Trying to downsize our belongings and pack up is overwhelming. Thinking of having to leave our church for a time and our friends brings me to tears...every time!! But I do feel excitement deep in my heart. I do feel peace. I have prayed over and over that the Lord would use our family to glorify Him, and I am honored and blown away that this is the capacity that He would see fit to use us.

I know that the path ahead might be scary at times. We have to depend on the Lord to provide for us. I know that the path ahead is going to be full of twists and turns. But I know that wherever He leads us He will be there to guide and protect...and there is much joy to be found in walking a path of obedience...even if it wasn't what I expected.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

If you want to keep up with the ministry in which God is leading us, Bill and I have a blog here. He mostly publishes updates on there, but sometimes I do too. :)

Excited!!

Bill left just a bit ago with two very excited kids (Anna and Ryan) to go pick up my dad from the airport. Yeah!!! We haven't seen him in awhile. It's been way too long. We are all very excited to see him and spend time with Grandpa. It is so beautiful out today, 72 degrees! I am hoping the rest of the weekend is as nice out. I am sure it will be fun even if it isn't, but the kids are really hoping to take Grandpa to our new favorite park. :)

I have a few posts in my draft box that might just have to wait until after the weekend. I promise to get you all caught up soon on the exciting things going on in our lives.

Until then...I hope you all have a great weekend!

Oh and the picture...I just thought I'd include one of Anna laughing. She really can be a happy girl! :)

Wordless Wednesday-Kite flying

Easter family pictures

Christmas and Easter are the holidays that I like to dress the kids up and take family pictures. Of course they don't usually turn out so well...but they almost always give us something to laugh about! :)

My sister in law Tara took these. Thanks Tara!

The first one was blurry but at least everyone was looking. Ha!

Anna decided that she didn't want her picture taken. Claire started crying and James wanted to run. Oh and there's my nephew sneeking into the picture. Hi Evan!

Trying to get James to settle down.

Oh, I better talk to Anna too to see if I can get her to look at the camera. Bill decides to try and "help" James smile.

Anna's still not digging this...I'm pretty sure Claire isn't either. Looks like Bill's having fun though!

So much for that idea! I see the dog decided to join in the fun.

Family pictures...you gotta love them! :) We'll try again next year!

Remembering the resurrection

Tonight we made resurrection cookies with the kids. I have been wanting to make these for the past few years on Easter but we have never done it. Of course the usual mayhem took place... someone screaming, someone laughing, someone licking, someone breaking a spoon...you know just the usual! :) I am hoping and praying that even though it was chaotic and fun that the kids truly understand the reason behind these cookies. I am so excited to celebrate (as we should every day) the day our Savior was raised to life, conquering death.

I thought I'd share the recipe in case you haven't seen it before...and of course a few pictures. Sorry about the graininess of them. I had my ISO up to 1600. It gets pretty dark in our house at night. :)

Resurrection cookies
1 c whole pecans
1 t vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. (this in important - don't wait until you are halfway done with the recipe!) Place pecans in a zipper bag and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested
he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

This would be where the spoon got broken! :)

Let each child smell the vinegar (the kids all agreed that they didn't like the smell). Put 1 vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. (yeah the salt ended up all over the table instead of the bowl. :) )Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. (Oh and sad they were. They were so excited about the cookies, and then when we told them they had to stay in the oven all night...the tears started to flow! I think that was a VERY good analogy)

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9.

(picture added after we checked Easter morning!)

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I can't wait till morning to see the looks on the kids when we take the cookies out of the oven!

I hope you all have a blessed Easter.

HE HAS RISEN!

You Capture: Fun

Beth at I should be Folding Laundry Hosts "You Capture", a weekly photo challenge. Since I love a good excuse to take pictures I thought I would join in. This weeks challenge is "fun"

Tonight as I was getting Claire ready for bed she nearly jumped out of my arms to be with Daddy. She just adores Bill.

Making silly faces.

Giving Daddy kisses.

Snuggling in for a goodnight hug!

I'm not sure who had more fun, them or me. :) I just love to see Bill with our little ones. It melts my heart every time.

1.8

*NOTE: if photography stuff doesn't interest you, you might want to skip this. :)

Pam (the friend who took those fun family pictures) took time out of her busy schedule on Saturday to come over and gave me a mini photography lesson. I have been trying to figure out how to take better pictures in low light, without a flash. She taught me a great trick on how to use my light meter. I am so thankful I can glean from her wisdom and experience. I was blown away buy this one little piece of information she gave me...seriously amazing people! I just love learning new things! Pam also came over bearing "treats" for me...and not the edible kind. :) She brought 2 lens for me to borrow and learn with. WOW! I was so excited. I still cannot get over her kindness. (I am saving for a new lens for my camera but it might be awhile before I can get one.) I'm sure you can guess what I spent all afternoon playing around with! :)

The aperture on the Canon 50mm 1.8 lens is stunning. Of course I am hoping that over time my pictures will improve, but I am sure that using this lens is really going to help.

Oh and for all those aspiring photographers out there I HIGHLY recommend the DVD "Beyond the Green box". Pam introduced me to Me Ra Koh Photography. Her DVD's are very informative, fun, and easy to understand. If you have a Digital SLR camera and are new to all of this...like me, then I would tell you it is totally worth the money. I learned so much. I have watched it a few times already. I keep going back to it as a refferance and learning something new each time.

So without further ado, here are a few pictures I took this weekend. Please excuse the boogery nose and eyes, Claire is getting over a cold.

"Ice cream" on the mind

Sometimes in midst of it, in the throws of motherhood the Lord speaks ever so gently...so soft that if I don't stop for a minute I might just miss what He is trying to say...

At one point last week I sat down with Anna and had a long heart to heart. She had been giving me such a hard time all day...all week for that matter. It seemed that no matter what I said or how I disciplined her she hardened her heart towards me and became more stubborn. I finally reached my breaking point and sat down on the floor next to her. As I began to pour my heart out to her my tears began to flow. I explained that I didn't understand her actions and that it broke my heart to see her in such disobedience. I told her how much I loved her and that I truly don't enjoy having to discipline her. I also admitted that I make mistakes too, we all do, but I have to answer to God when I am disobedient to Him...just as she has to answer to me. I talked for a few more minutes, she sat directly in front of me, head down seeming to be full of sorrow for her actions. When I was done speaking, I placed my hand lovingly on hers and said, "Tell me what you are thinking. What is going through your mind." She looked up at me with sad eyes and replied,

"Ice cream!"

I sat there stunned for a second. That was NOT the response I was envisioning from her. I have to admit I was a little bit disappointed that she apparently did not even see my heart or understand anything I said. The tears I shed were genuine (and if you know me, you know I don't cry all that often), they were not shed to make her feel guilty, but I did feel that they had now been shed in vain. I gave her a hug and reminded her of my love and told her she could go back to what I had called her from. A sigh escaped my lips as she left the room. Now what?...

And then He whispered.... "Don't you see the comparison?"

Um, what? No! Comparison of what? She was only thinking of ice cream the whole time I was talking and trying to show her the right way to go. She is only full of her own thoughts and has no regard for my words. I just want to love her and have a right relationship with her, but we can't because she insists on thinking only of herself and doing things her way. I want to give her the desires of her heart. I want her to be happy. But her thoughts need to me in line with mine!" Suddenly my thoughts trailed as I realized what He was trying to show me.

How many times has the Lord tried to show me the way He wants me to go or to speak to my heart, only for me to miss the point because I was too full of my own thoughts or ideas. How often has my mind been on my own desires, and not had the mind of Christ? It really gave me much to ponder. I found myself relating more and more to the situation. I am pretty sure that I have had "ice cream" on the brain too.

The Last few months the Lord has been working on my heart. I had in mind the way I thought my life was going to go. I was excited about some things that the Lord had brought into my life...good things that I thought were from Him. But, life took an unexpected (isn't that always the case?) WAY different turn. I have sort of struggled to understand why it appeared God was directing me one way and now has changed it (obviously I have issues with change! :) ). Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." It is so amazing to me how true this is! I have seen this over and over in my life, and yet here I am learning it all over again as if for the first time.

In these hard motherhood moments, I am thankful that the Lord reaches out to teach me. And I am thinking that maybe just maybe this time, this lesson was meant for me more so then for my daughter.

Wordless Wednesday