At the end of the day, when my little family puts up with my silly ideas of fitting everyone on the green chair for a picture, when the puppy is sleeping on me, when I get to watch my man play with our little man, when I get to hold them all close, and when I get to breathe in all the pieces of this life that’s when I feel a glimpse of resting in being the beloved wife, mommy, and puppy owner that I am. They love me well.
Trust in Him at all times, o people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. – Psalm 62:8
I love that throughout scripture I see examples of God hearing and answering His people. He longs for them to cry out to Him and to come to Him. He asks them to cast their cares on Him. He binds up their broken hearts. He knows their sitting and their rising. He does not act like an indifferent bystander. He’s working for us and for our good. So, today, in light of writing that, I’m going to share some of the things that are tucked into my heart and just plain make me happy (besides, Fridays are for happy things!).
I think (maybe?) sometimes part of knowing you are the beloved of God is remembering, taking note, and being grateful for the things He has put in your life. He is good to us.
What has He put in your life that makes you happy?
This past weekend we had such a fun time since we are finally feeling better!
We started Friday off by going to a birthday party for some awesome people from church. I’m always curious to see how these things will go now that we’ve got a baby in tow. He did great though and was pretty content the whole time! Plus, I’ve realized that I just love seeing other people love him. Our pastor’s daughter and our worship leader got to hold him quite a bit and he loved it! I am so incredibly thankful for all these awesome people in his life and for how they bless our family. I totally need to get more pictures of him with other people though! Too often I don’t get my camera out.
Saturday was a day that turned out different than the first plan, but it worked! We had wanted to go to the Farmer’s Market and go to their community breakfast, but then we saw it was raining and we had been slow at getting ready anyway. So, that plan went out the window and we went instead to eat breakfast in town. Then we ran some errands and I did some work at church before getting home to my much needed nap! The longer stretches Asher sleeps at night makes it harder for me to go right back to bed sometimes. Though, I am NOT complaining about him sleeping longer! I will take my 6 and a half hours of sleep in a row whenever he will give it to me!
(these are from a couple of weeks ago, but he’s just so cute and funny when he sleeps!)
Sunday meant getting ready for church and getting there in time for worship practice. After church we hung around a bit and then Ryan’s aunt came over with a present for Asher. Visiting time, nap time, and then family walk time all before our fun bedtime routine. For bedtime, we’ve started giving Asher a bath and sometimes reading a little. It’s pretty much my favorite.
(blurry but I just love how he rests his hand on the stroller strap!)
All in all, a perfectly good weekend and now we’re back into the Monday routine with the husband off at work…but at least I got to go out to lunch with Asher, the husband, and my mom today! And eat the most delicious greek grain salad and tomato bisque soup…mmmm.
How was your weekend?
3 super happy months of being married! woot! in celebration, I went through our wedding pictures and honeymoon pictures to finally post them on facebook. if we’re friends, you can look at them here. made me totally want to do the whole day over again and to run off to the mountains and the beach like now. but instead, i’ll make a list of all the fun things i love about life right where i’m at! in no particular order here are 12 things for the 12th.
1. being married
2. my awesome husband
3. my adorable dog Boaz who loves me
4. my church family.
5. a wonderful place to live that is warm even though it’s still cold outside
6. traveling to look forward to in the future
7. friends’ super cute babies
8. being able to e-mail and text best friends
9. being able to cook all sorts of deliciousness
10. pinterest boards of lovely things
11. books to read and time to read them
12. mornings spent with god reading the bible and doing the breaking free bible study
What are you loving about your life right now?
Last year…
I carried orphans (Lindo, Thabo, Jamesy) on my back. I watched my baby (Lindo) be adopted into a family that welcomed me.
I held Lerato (love) in my arms before mixing mud to make bricks to build her a house.
I equipped learners with biblical truths and encouraged them to step out to become contagious Christians.
I worshipped God on a mountain with my people.
This year…
I pray. I call. I encourage. I am mindful.
I bought TOMS shoes that give a pair of shoes to a South African kiddo.
I bought Lerato shirts to support someone who spoke truth into my life and still does..
And now. I can shop at the Thrive Store.
~
Even though, things look quite a bit different from last year
what I wrote before and finally got around to painting rings true.
“I have you in my heart.” Philippians 1:7
I can still make an impact
even from 9000 miles away
and so can you.
A shirt, a coffee mug, becoming a monthly supporter…
Together we can hold them in our hearts and make it possible for them to be held by loving arms, to learn God’s truth, to be empowered with love to change their nation.
“Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11
The last few days, I’ve been craving some face time with God. Sometimes I just need to get away and soak Him up. Fall in love all over again by discovering new things, learning more, and spending some quality time while letting Him woo me all over with His words. (Can you tell I’m a words of affirmation girl with a mix of quality time and then throw in gifts after that?)
Between work and life, I thought I wasn’t going to get this time until later in the week, but God surprised me last night. I went to a night of prayer and worship focused on healing (specifically for a family at church–which by the way–if you could join in prayer for them that would be awesome!). I walked away being refreshed and so confident. Confident that God is who He says He is. That I am who He says I am. That to be holy…to be set apart…means not devaluing yourself or others. Because, you know what? We are children of God whose bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit. And in the depths of Your LOVE we find peace makes us whole. So, I’m running after His peace and letting go.
Have you spent some time face time with God lately? What’s He speaking to your heart?
“I have you in my heart.” Philippians 1:7
Forgive the lack of blogging…I kept going to blog, but then getting distracted or falling asleep. Oops! Here’s a quick recap of the week: last staff meeting of the year, talking with some lovely ladies, binding and more binding (woot! leadership summit books to impact lots of kiddos!), saying good-bye at adopt-a-family, last town time aka shopping for gifts for that kid up there, last church complete with “Madly,” birthday parties for Joyce (Basotho staff–we went to her house!) and Jen (ninja themed), making a dvd for that kid up there, saying good-bye to the hope house kids….that was rough, and going to church with that kid up there!
Starting off this week, I need some prayer! Today, I say “see you in His timing” to Lindo…..I miss him already, but am trusting God big time knowing that He has Lindo in his heart too. So if you get a chance to pray for him, his family, and me today, thank-you. Anything I can be praying for you about?
Happy Anniversary!! Love and miss you guys!
As of 8:32 a.m., I officially signed and faxed my commitment letters. Well, to be more accurate, I signed them last night, but you get the picture. Commitment letters for what, you say? Well, the big news that I have been blogging about and Twittering about is finally official, finally happening. I’m going to South Africa for a year from January 19th to December 6th. I will be participating in the 1-Year Internship program through Thrive Africa. I praise God for all of the ways that He has been at work already in allowing this opportunity to come about and how He will continue to be with me through the preparation and the following year. I have a lot to prepare! But, I am pumped! More than anything, I am excited to see God through this process. My head swirls with all sorts of details and thoughts, but ever since this morning I wanted to blog about this! There you have it. The big news. More to come as I continue to prepare and process and get there. For now, please pray for my family as they adjust to this drastic change, pray for me as I prepare and as I raise money and get all the details together.
Teach discipleship classes in rural villages
Facilitate pastors’ conferences and other training events
Attend weekly classes taught by full-time missionaries
Host mission teams and engage in relationship evangelism
Serve in the day-to-day operation of Thrive Africa
“In order to choose joy we need to focus on the things in life that can’t be replaced.” -Read the whole post here.
b'ahava 