A lesson in trust and provision

This weekend has been a little rough to say the least! I have been reminded again and again that Jesus promised to provide exactly what we need at the time we need it. I have also been reminded that stress and worry DO NOT come from above - they are from the enemy and he will attempt to use them to distract us from our focus of rejoicing in the Lord always. Notice that I said "attempt", you see he cannot MAKE us be distracted or discouraged - those are things that WE allow to happen.

Since early Friday morning we have discovered that our Expedition needs a tire replaced, our Taurus is not working at all (more than likely a thermostat or water pump issue) and our son's hearing aid was chewed up by the dog. Any one of these alone would be enough to make me stress and freak out - having them all hit on one day, that was almost more than this mom could take! At first, I was mad and angry that the Lord would allow this to come right now. However, as the day progressed, I realized that I was not seeking my Lord at all - in fact I was having a pity party! So I made a concious decision to rejoice in my Lord and NOT be discouraged by circumstances and setbacks.

Obviously, this has not made any of these situations go away or disappear. In fact, none of them have been taken care of yet. What has happened is that my fear and discouragement has been replaced with confidence in my Savior's provision and rejoicing in the knowledge that I belong to the King of Kings!

I am continuing to pray and trust God to provide for each of these - He has already blessed us with a gift from some dear friends in ministry. I know that he will continue to take care of the rest because I know in whom I have believed and He is able!

Just a mini-family update

With all my posts about Africa and the lessons God has been teaching me - I thought it time to do a quick update about the family and let you know what is going on with them.



Hannah is well into her last year of Jr. High. She has finished a great volleyball season where we saw her grow and improve immensely! She is now on to basketball which she says she enjoys more than volleyball even though she likes both. She made the B team in Basketball and is excited about that. Their first game is Thursday against Pagosa - she can't wait to beat them and rub it in with her mom! HA HA. She made the honor roll this first quarter with a 3.85 GPA - we continue to be so proud of her and how well she does academically.



Malachi is enjoying his first year of Jr. High and has just been "taking it all in". He has just started basketball through the Parks and Rec program and says he likes it. He has many friends at school and just likes hanging with whomever. He also made the honor roll this first quarter with a 3.5. We are VERY proud of how hard he is working now that he is in Jr. High.



Kestra is in 5th grade and continues to be our little social butterfly! She is always looking for a party to go to or a party to plan. She loves her teacher and pretty much everyone is her friend! Joel recently said he has gone from "Mr. A" to "Kestra's Dad". So funny! She is everything girl but loves sports as well - especially soccer!



Tyler is in 3rd grade and keeps us laughing and on our toes. He always has something witty to say. He is doing great in school as well - he continues to spend a good portion of the day with his Special Education Teacher Ms. King who he really likes and relates well to. We are so proud of his progress. Tyler also has a servant's heart - he loves to help anyone do anything. What a blessing to have in a son!

Joel is keeping busy not only at the church but also as a substitute bus driver for the school district. He enjoys the interaction with both students and staff. Joel is also continuing to work on his Bachelor's degree through Liberty University. If all goes as planned, he will graduate in Dec. 2011.

I am keeping busy helping Joel, working for my Dad, subbing in schools, and keeping the homefront. It has been an awesome and wonderful time.

Our church was able to move into our new sanctuary the first part of August and have been so blessed by this facility! We are looking forward to seeing how God continues to work and move through the use of this new building!

Boudaries and Space

It is so funny to me that as children, we wanted to push the boundaries as far as we could. Just a little bit more here and just a little more there - maybe mom and dad won't notice! Then as teens we not only wanted to test the boundaries - we wanted more space to ourselves. We longed for our parents to back off and give us room.

I am realizing that as an adult - things really haven't changed all that much. We still push the boundaries that God has placed on us and we still long for space. Boundaries are a good thing in every aspect of life and in every relationship I think and yet like anything, they can work for our good or for our harm. If we place appropriate boundaries then we are protecting ourselves from things that may harm us; yet if we place too many boundaries then we may miss out on the blessings that lay beyond.

As for space, yes we all need space at times. We need others to just back off and give us some room and not smother us and yet again, if we don't allow others close to us at times we miss the blessing of close relationships. What a hard balance this is!

Today, I find myself longing for some space and needing to find a way to set some healthy boundaries on some relationships in my life. Yet, I am fearful of puhing those away that I truly do need close to me. I need and desire to find that healthy balance of what is appropriate and good for all involved. Thankfully, I have a Heavenly Father who totally understands.

When I look at Jesus' life here on Earth I have to just stand in awe at how well he managed this balance of boundaries and space. Here was a person who was almost constantly surrounded by people that both loved and hated him. Everywhere he went - people followed and yet he was SO good to get away for time to himself at the feet of his Father. He was also great at limiting those that were with him at the hard times in his life. This is the balance that I am praying to find - time for those closest to me and yet time for myself.

This coming week - this is my goal: to carve out not only time for my Lord but to also look and make sure that I am setting appropriate and good boundaries and giving myself space while at the same time not neglecting relationships and people. The hard part about this will be that I may have to tell people no and I may have to stand firm! However - "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength." Phil 4:13.

Fall

I truly enjoy fall in Colorado. The leaves changing, the weather getting cooler, warm chilli, fire in the fireplace, etc. What a beautiful and fun time of year...

Fall reminds me of the changes that Christ has made in our spiritual lives as well. He comes in and makes us new and changes the colors in our hearts! Sometimes, the changes are painful but in the end they make us better and stronger.

Lately, I have had this sense of change coming in my life and although it makes me nervous in a way I am excited to see what exactly this change is! I have no clear idea or direction - I am just trusting that the Lord knows and it will be for our good. It is so refreshing to know that I can rest in the arms of my Heavenly Father and know He wants only things for my good!

This is sort of a random post but thought I would just toss it out there!

Just a Thought: Storyline: Jochebed

Just a Thought: Storyline: Jochebed: "By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of t..."

Last Journal Entry 9/27

Monday Sept 27

I can hardly believe that I am on the way home! In some ways, my life in Bayfield seems like a total other life time and in some ways Africa seems like a dream.

The flight from Joberg to Atlanta was LONG - 16 hrs! We left in the dark and arrived in Atlanta while it was still dark. I had planned on sleeping this flight but was just unable to.

We landed in Atlanta at 6:30 a.m. Getting through customs, security, and re-checking our bags was time consuming but went smoothly.

A DEFINITE highlight today was being able to talk to Joel and all 4 kids before they went to school. I didn't realize how much I missed sending them on their way each day! I am so ready to hug and kiss each one of my 4 kids!

I had thought our team was through illness - not the case. Cynthia and Judy both had a bit of an upset stomach on the Joberg-Atlanta flight. Cynthia could hardly function but made it until we were able to find a gate and camp out for the day. Judy wasn't near that bad but didn't feel great either!

This was another long layover - Almost 8 hrs as our flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake was delayed. It was SO hard just sitting around ready to be on the next leg of our journey home. However, after some down time and phone calls in the morning - we all began to perk up some!

I have to say - phone calls from both my sister and my sister-in-law as well as Facebook posts made me feel so loved and appreciated! I am so blessed to have so many who love, care, and pray for me. I do not take that forgranted at all.

Flight # 2 boarded late at 2:30 Atlanta time. Compared to the 16 hr flight from Joberg - this flight should be short. I am very tired after two long days with very little sleep and certainly no quality sleep but am working hard to stay awake so I can get my body re-trained to Colorado time. I am not sure how those who travel abroad all the time manage!

Cynthia is feeling much better - I am praying that continues. Judy wasn't feeling great so praying she will feel better soon!

I know there will be memories, thoughts, and lessons to post from Africa in the future and I will write them here in my journal. However, in all honesty, today my mind is one tracked - seeing the one whom my Father created to be the love of my life - Joel! I simply am so anxious to see him - I am praying he has a safe and uneventful drive to Grand Junction this afternoon!

We made it to Salt Lake a little late which worked out ok for us since we had a long layover. The 48 straight hours of traveling is catching up with everyone - some are quiet and reserved, others are just talkative, and others are giddy, giggly, and goofy (this would be me)! We have laughed so hard at the silliest things: sleeping in the deet, taking shirts off, going in the elevator, etc. However, I am thankful for this as the alternative would be to break down in tears over the anxiousness to see Joel!

We are finally on the LAST flight home! In just an hour I will be with Joel after 15 LONG days! I have a renewed admiration for those with spouses in military or jobs where they travel - I am not sure I would handle that well at all! I love my man and love seeing him everyday!

This is the last day of our journey but I will continue to journal as things come to mind. I am so thankful for this opportunity and experience. I know I have grown and been stretched in ways I never could imagine. Most of all, I am changed because of the work the Lord did in me this past two weeks!

Journal Entry 9/26

Tim said to tell Joel hi today...can't wait! Woke up this morning a little sick to my stomach. I am thinking it was the water at the resort so I switched to my filtered water bottle. After breakfast and some medicine I felt some better.

Today we start home! It has been such a wonderful time and experience but I am ready to be home with my man and kids!

I laid down on the bus on the way to the market and all I could think about was Joel and hugging him! They say absence makes the heart grow fonder - I can't agree more! I know this time has strengthened my love for Joel in ways I could never imagine!

The market was on interesting experience. They are very pushy and hard to bargain with but I feel I got ok deals on everything. It really made me anxious to get home to the kids after I bought their gifts. However, I am really glad that Joel and I are staying in Grand Junction tomorrow night. It will be nice to share my experiences with him before the chaos begins at home!

As I write, we are on the bus to the airport - it is hard to write but I wanted to do some journaling. I am so anxious to be on the plane to the US - the time here has changed me but my heart remains in doing ministry alongside my husband in Bayfield.

We are pulling ino Johannsburg South Africa and I have to say I am very sad to be leaving Taps and Edden. It feels like they are just a part of the team and they should be going to Atlanta with us! I am really going to miss those two!

We arrived at the airport AFTER going back to the Baptist house. Tim had left his pillow there the first night and he was quite comical about getting it back! He had had the pillow for 30 years and had to get used to traveling without it!

Once we were at the airport we checked in and had to go through customs and get our passports stamped and all. Leaving Taps and Edden was hard - most of us were either crying or had tears in our eyes. It is amazing how quickly you become close to people. I do not know if I will see them on this Earth but I KNOW we will worship together in Heaven!!!