Unexpected things...

I just wanted to let those of you who know me and check up on my blog every once in a while to be aware of a need. Our friends the Stauffacher's have a very ill daughter. They are missionaries in Malawi. Their daughter Nya came down with what they thought was the flu, but it turned into possible Malaria. She has all the symptoms, but the tests were negative. They doctors are thinking Blackwater Fever. So they had to go to South Africa to the hospital there for better care and still are waiting for a diagnosis. In the midst of this Amy, the mom, and their younger daughter were also sick with fevers and coughs. So they had a load to handle and they need our prayers in the name of Jesus to our Heavenly Father for this situation...for healing....

Been thinkin about...

Being intentional. Do I wake up thinking I am going to intentionally be a Mom today, or I am going to intentionally be a wife, sister, daughter friend, child of God? Or do I wake up tired wanting to sleep more, wanting to be fulfilled and happy with my life, all my ducks in a row, children behaving well, trying to survive the day? Do you see the difference? I do: SELFISHNESS! We don't need to find ourselves, we need to place our hope and trust in the one who is outside of us in that He sees all, knows all (and us intimately), and His sovereignty reigns over all. Maybe its just a play on language, but I think the lie can be so masked with good intentions and sound so close to what we think is right that we don't allow for true servanthood to rule our lives. We don't need to find ourselves, we need to loose ourselves. Loosing yourself might sound scary, weird, or uncontrolled. But I am not talking about loosing yourself to float around the galaxy in mindless purposeless tasking. I am speaking about trusting in our God who is bigger than you, bigger than your life, bigger than your problems, bigger than your exhaustion, bigger than your frustrations. We so limit the Holy Spirit's work in our life by making it about us, by seeking to be fulfilled and happy, by choosing our own self-centered standard for what is good for us.
My Father, You are so far beyond my comprehension yet so intimately connected with me. Thank you for Your faithfulness and long-suffering with this self-centered child. For Your name and Your glory cause your servant to be intentional for You. Your Name is great and mine is not. Your Kingdom is alive in the hearts of men and I desire your will over mine. I ask for this days food to allow my physical body to serve you and those around me. Please forgive my sin and help me forgive those who have sinned against me. Holy Spirit guide my feet away form what is wrong and the sin that so easily entangles and do not let the evil one glory from my life. To You O Lord, of You and from You is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever! In Jesus name, Amen!

The Hair Cut...

So here is the new boy setting up a track for his Hot Wheels.
And that tongue just has to be in constant use in order to make the track work properly...

Hey, what's up?

results of good use...

Didn't think it was possible to wear out rain boots in Southern California....but here is proof...the best $10 I have spent in recent past....

Rain, rain and more rain....

So do you feel soggy? I actually feel refreshed. Today was the first day waking up to sun in about 4 or 5 days. I was reminded last night of a more exciting and transforming rain: the reign of Jesus Christ. Does that excite you? With all the amazing clouds that have been in the sky's these last few days, I was also reminded of the scripture where the disciple's are asking Jesus when He will return and what do they need to be looking for. And Jesus says, you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds. I was trying to visualize what that would look like. Of course it will not just be in the sky where I am but for all the world to see! AWESOME!

SNOW!

Last weekend me and the kids went to High School Winter Camp. And there was actually snow on the ground. Luckily the days were sunny so you could find a warm place in the sun. All the High Schooler's had a blast and of course my kids had fun. The students and Shad said the speaker was really good and I enjoyed being able to be in the meetings long enough for worship. The band was really good too.
The little tiny one here is our sweet friend Aurora and the kids just love her! We took care of here at night while her Mommy was with our High School girls in their cabin.

The remnant...And Sea World

So here was the last remnant of Christmas to go at our house. The kids made this house and finally we threw it away. Fortunately for me this particular gingerbread house was not edible! :)




And here are pictures from the kids first trips to Sea World. Shad's parents bought us passes this year for our Christmas present and the kids are thrilled with the new adventure....Here is Judah and Mommy petting the Bat Rays...
Lilly and Judah hangin out with the Dolphins...

And here is a picture from the place that I looked forward to going every time I went to Sea World...The kids play place...Back then it was called Captain Kids World and I didn't even bother to notice what it is called now...

And here they are right before going in to see the Manatees....

Back in my day you could get into Sea World on their home school day for like $2, but not anymore! We went to those home school days so much that I probably haven't been there in the last 20 years so it was fun to see it again. Judah loved it when the dolphin's and whales would jump at their shows and he would get grumpy when they stopped jumping. And of course Daddy had to sit in the soak zone for every show although, we didn't get wet. We got wet petting the Bat Ray's more than in the soak zones....