We were blessed this week to spend time in Florida. The beaches were amazing, weather glorious, surroundings beautiful, and the companionship was excellent. I love spending time with our kids. They are great! Watching them interact together, their excitement about anything new, they have such a zest for life! They keep me laughing constantly and I can't think of anyone I would rather spend the week with. Well, other than my husband;) He spent the daylight hours at ECHO in training. He absolutely loved his time there as well. (He says he will post later).
As we told the children goodnight and turned out the light in our small bedroom, my son said, "This has been awesome, but it will be so great to be home again. Goodnight mom and dad, love you." With those sweet words, I lost it. A huge lump rose in my throat, and tears poured down my cheeks. "Home?" I thought, "everything this child sees as 'home' will be disappearing in a few short weeks. How in the world do I help him handle this?" I went to the bathroom, closed the door, sat in the darkness and blew my nose, repeatedly. I was a total mess. As I sat there, I realized the only one struggling with this was...myself. I also know the kids will take their cues from me. I sat and talked to my Father, blew my nose again, and surrendered anew to His gloriously exciting plan. Can't wait to see what's around the bend!
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Mundane made marvelous
Do you ever have those moments when you feel like someone hits you on the forehead with a 2x4? Those moment of clarity when things fall into place and it all makes sense? Perhaps it's a verse in the Bible you read for the millionth time, and God gives you fresh insight. Or when you are with your husband or kids and you get a lump in your throat as you realize how your Father has incredibly blessed you. Maybe for you, its those moments you spend in His creation. Well, this happened to me not so long ago.
In the midst of my "sorting chaos," one of our kids had constructed a fort. It was surrounded by piles (organized piles of course;), boxes, totes, papers, etc.
As I looked at the sign on that fort, I thought to myself with a sigh, "boy, wouldn't I give anything to climb in there for a few hours." I took two more steps and stopped in my tracks. I nearly dropped my overflowing dirty laundry basket. "Carrie," He said, "I AM your fortress! I AM your strong tower. Come to me and find rest for your soul." (2x4 moment) Pretty sure I got a goofy grin on my face as I continued my trek to the laundry room. I thought about that all day long. And I have been marveling anew over this truth that He made new to me in that moment.
May HE make your mundane marvelous.
In the midst of my "sorting chaos," one of our kids had constructed a fort. It was surrounded by piles (organized piles of course;), boxes, totes, papers, etc.
As I looked at the sign on that fort, I thought to myself with a sigh, "boy, wouldn't I give anything to climb in there for a few hours." I took two more steps and stopped in my tracks. I nearly dropped my overflowing dirty laundry basket. "Carrie," He said, "I AM your fortress! I AM your strong tower. Come to me and find rest for your soul." (2x4 moment) Pretty sure I got a goofy grin on my face as I continued my trek to the laundry room. I thought about that all day long. And I have been marveling anew over this truth that He made new to me in that moment.
May HE make your mundane marvelous.
Confession
Here it is.
The truth.
I am scared to blog.
I worry about how I will sound. I worry that I won't be able to communicate clearly, that I won't be able to explain accurately what God has placed in my heart and what He has done in my life. I truly wonder who in the world is going to read this anyway and are they even going to care? I will probably sound foolish and shallow. I barely passed freshman composition class anyway. Plus, I write in run-on sentences (that's how I talk!) and people might judge me for my bad...or should I say incorrect grammar? -gasp- "does she actually think she can homeschool her children?!?!" (Well, honestly, sometimes I am not sure I can...but let's stick to one confession at a time)
So...with that off my chest...I realize that my focus is in all the wrong places. Look at all the "I" statements in the above paragraph. I know one thing for sure. Every time I take my eyes off Jesus, I end up looking at myself (or others around me). And every time, I end up dissatisfied, discontent and disgruntled. (Doesn't disgruntled create a great mental picture? Don't you absolutely love the fact that God gave us language to express things. I digress....another post, another time) Turning my eyes back to Jesus brings clarity and focus to the things that really matter. I truly desire to declare who He is and what He has done and is doing. And if this blog will make Him just a little more famous...then bring it. I will blog for that.
The truth.
I am scared to blog.
I worry about how I will sound. I worry that I won't be able to communicate clearly, that I won't be able to explain accurately what God has placed in my heart and what He has done in my life. I truly wonder who in the world is going to read this anyway and are they even going to care? I will probably sound foolish and shallow. I barely passed freshman composition class anyway. Plus, I write in run-on sentences (that's how I talk!) and people might judge me for my bad...or should I say incorrect grammar? -gasp- "does she actually think she can homeschool her children?!?!" (Well, honestly, sometimes I am not sure I can...but let's stick to one confession at a time)
So...with that off my chest...I realize that my focus is in all the wrong places. Look at all the "I" statements in the above paragraph. I know one thing for sure. Every time I take my eyes off Jesus, I end up looking at myself (or others around me). And every time, I end up dissatisfied, discontent and disgruntled. (Doesn't disgruntled create a great mental picture? Don't you absolutely love the fact that God gave us language to express things. I digress....another post, another time) Turning my eyes back to Jesus brings clarity and focus to the things that really matter. I truly desire to declare who He is and what He has done and is doing. And if this blog will make Him just a little more famous...then bring it. I will blog for that.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Calvin's Wild Ride
As people have asked me how preparation is going, I have been relating it to the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon that shows Calvin launching his wagon down a very steep hill, dodging rocks, logs, and trees. Even though it is hard to philosophize on the way down like Calvin does, we continue to see God's faithfulness in every obstacle that comes along. The "rocks" that cause anxiety and stress melt away through prayer. The "logs" that threaten to upset our wagon splinter as friends and family pray and support us.
I have often asked myself recently, "Who am I to assume God can't or won't provide for our family?" or "Are God's resources limited?" Gently, He reminds me that He is in control, that life isn't about me, and that we need to simply trust and obey.
So, we may reach the bottom of the hill with sticks in our hair, a few bumps and bruises, and dirt in our fingernails, but we were never promised a smooth road. And we look back in appreciation of the teaching God has given us through it. Why are we so blessed? To simply be a blessing to others. This is our prayer for all God's soldiers bravely engaged in the battle.
There, my first blog post ever. I humbly submit it to the world wide web, launch it into cyberspace, and send it to the blogosphere (whatever that is). May God be glorified.
Erik
Update:
We leave this Saturday 4-13 for North Fort Myers FL. I will be attending a week long Tropical Ag Training through ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). Carrie and the kids will hopefully find time to relax a little and reconnect after 2 months of very busy preparation, presentations, and travelling. We also look forward to family coming out to Leo May 4th and 5th to help us prepare the house to sell, sort through stuff, etc. We then leave May 11 for MTI training in Palmer Lake, CO. We will be there for 4 weeks. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.
I have often asked myself recently, "Who am I to assume God can't or won't provide for our family?" or "Are God's resources limited?" Gently, He reminds me that He is in control, that life isn't about me, and that we need to simply trust and obey.
So, we may reach the bottom of the hill with sticks in our hair, a few bumps and bruises, and dirt in our fingernails, but we were never promised a smooth road. And we look back in appreciation of the teaching God has given us through it. Why are we so blessed? To simply be a blessing to others. This is our prayer for all God's soldiers bravely engaged in the battle.
There, my first blog post ever. I humbly submit it to the world wide web, launch it into cyberspace, and send it to the blogosphere (whatever that is). May God be glorified.
Erik
Update:
We leave this Saturday 4-13 for North Fort Myers FL. I will be attending a week long Tropical Ag Training through ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). Carrie and the kids will hopefully find time to relax a little and reconnect after 2 months of very busy preparation, presentations, and travelling. We also look forward to family coming out to Leo May 4th and 5th to help us prepare the house to sell, sort through stuff, etc. We then leave May 11 for MTI training in Palmer Lake, CO. We will be there for 4 weeks. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.
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