The Beginning

I wrote a couple of weeks ago that things were about to change and most people know now because of conversations or Facebook.  We're embarking on a new journey to become U.S. Missionaries through Chi Alpha campus ministry.  This is a ministry that focuses on the mission field of the college and university campus.  College campuses are ripe for the harvest...not only with American college students, but also international students.  It's an exciting endeavor for us and a totally new and unexpected twist.  We've been praying for months about what our next step would be and had considered Chi Alpha in the past, but never seriously.  This time, it was as if we both woke up one morning and just knew it was what we needed to do.  Things have been a bit of a whirlwind since then.  The application process whizzed by and we head out to our first training in less than two weeks!  It's sort of a boot camp to prepare us for the next step...

The next step is a year long internship at the University of Arkansas.  Did I mention that Nick isn't allowed to work during this time?  So, we have less than two weeks to raise the cash to attend the training and roughly two months to raise monthly support, pack, and move to Arkansas!  Crazy, right?  Maybe so.  But we are confident that the LORD is leading us this way and that He will provide for every need along the way.  He's good like that.

I can't tell you how much I am anticipating seeing the ways He's going to provide.  We're at a point right now that we will truly be able to say that it was all Him and none of us.

Recently, I have begun to walk a track near my house every day.  It's partially for physical health reasons, but mostly it has become a spiritual refuge for me.  I have been circling things in prayer as I circle the track.  Praying for provision, family, a burden for the students on the campus we'll go to...the list goes on. I can honestly say I have a peace about all of this (as long as I remember that He is the one in charge and not trying to handle any of it on my own strength)  It's been amazing already.

We will be talking to friends and family in the coming weeks and asking them to pray about supporting us monthly or with a single gift.  It would be a great honor to us if you would consider supporting us in this way.  If you feel like you would be willing or able to do this, please message, call, comment, text, etc.
We wish we could sit down with everyone we know and share our vision.  Unfortunately, distance prevents that, but thankfully we have other ways to communicate!  :)

Thanks for taking the time to read!  More updates will be coming soon...as well as our summer antics with our little beauties!

Thoughts on 13 years

Today is a special day.  It marks 13 years since I started this journey called marriage.  It certainly hasn't been a bed of roses!  We've been through a lot together in the last 13 years and probably moved just as many times.  Oh what wanderers are we.
I could probably sit here and list all the bad things we've dealt with, and fights we've had, and blah, blah, blah.  But I'm not going to do that.  Instead, I want to take a verse from my favorite book of the Bible (this week) and share from there.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:8

True:  His love is true...and he tells the truth.  Even when it hurts!
Honorable:  He honors me and our family by going to work every day (sometimes to a job he doesn't really like) and taking care of us.
Just:  The dictionary says this means guided by truth.  He seeks every day to be guided by The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
Pure:  He works hard at staying pure in this world that doesn't make it easy!
Lovely:  Ok, guys may not like being referred to as lovely, but this term connotates an inner character trait.  He's got character - moral and spiritual handsomeness (I'll use that word instead of beauty)  :)
Commendable:  Yeah, this guy is commendable just for putting up with me!  Seriously, he is worthy of my trust and respect.  Our girls regard him as if he hung the moon!  I realize he didn't, but it doesn't make me love him any less.
Excellence:  He strives for a spirit of excellence.  If we're going to do something, let's do it right!
Worthy of Praise:  He's a dreamer.  That's what I am praising God for about him today.  Daring to dream that God will answer our stance of faith.

One of my favorite songs is Andrew Peterson's "Dancing in the Mine Fields."  It is such a great reminder of the promises of God and the promises we made to each other all those years ago.  Here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs3fg_WsEg&ob=av3n


So that's what I'm thinking about today.  Has it all been good?  No.  Does it get on my nerves when he does embarrassing things?  Yes.  Do I sometimes want to strangle him to an inch of his life?  I choose not to answer that question.  But I wouldn't trade the last 13 years and our 2 beautiful daughters for anything.  And as we step into the future and the new things God has for us, I am glad we have a great foundation and a great love for each other.

I Love You, Nick!  Happy Anniversary!

Launching Out

So it's been a while since I've posted!  Almost a whole year!  Much has happened since then.  Nick resigned his church position and we moved back to our home and have just been waiting, and waiting, and waiting...and praying, and praying, and praying.  Finally we feel like God has given us some direction and He's taking us down a completely new and scary path.  I'll share more about that in the coming weeks, along with stuff I have been and will be working on.

Suffice it to say, we are about to launch out into unknown waters.  In Luke 5, Jesus tells Simon to "launch out in to the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

So stay tuned...

Another Summer update

We've been having fun this week...here are our pictures!

First up:  ice treasure hunting.  I put several small toys in a bowl and froze them.  Bear and Daddy had fun excavating them.

 Next:  We (meaning Daddy) sliced up a pool noodle and made some nice marble tracks.  They raced marbles for quite a while.  There was some experimenting and we even got a loop-de-loop out of it!  They loved that.  Bear also learned to play marbles so we've been having fun with that too.

 Third:  Scratch and sniff paint!  Kool aid + a little water is all you need.  It does stain though so be careful!

 And last, self-portrait dolls.  I got this idea here:  http://mymagicmom.com/self-portrait-dolls/
Bear wanted to do her whole family.  Bug just colored on one that I made of her.  The pics aren't very clear and I forgot to take a picture of the back, but they do like them - despite Bear's somber look!

 

Hope you enjoy these shots and maybe get some good ideas! 

Another week of summer fun

Not a lot of pics this week.  What all did we do?

Well, we painted on our windows, played freeze tag, and the girls camped inside their tent.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the cuteness in the tent.  Today we made twirling paper ladybugs.  I think there were a couple of other things in there.  So much stuff I can't remember it all.  We've had lots of fun and the house is now a mess. I may need to have a clean and purge night after the girls go to bed just to get some semblance of order in here.  My urge to purge cannot be suppressed forever!  Crafting is messy...but we have fun and it's worth it.

Here are a few pics from the week.  The window paint recipe I got from www. mymagicmom.com
and the twirling paper ladybugs were found at www.makeandtakes.com

Have a wonderful Independence Day weekend!  We have great plans made with family and food and ice cream and pool fun and fireworks. 

Doesn't get much better than that!

High Tea

So last night Bear picked a Tea Party as her summer fun adventure for today.  Everything was all good until I looked in my china box and realized I do not own a teapot.  Not sure exactly how I was planning to make tea without a teapot!  So I frantically went searching all over my town.  Again, not sure why I was actually expecting to find one in this tiny place!   I finally got the bright idea to borrow one from a friend.  (big sigh of relief)  I made tea cakes and bought some caffeine free herbal tea.  We played classical music and had a grand old time.  Even Bug...though there were a few times I thought she was going to break the china.


It was very special for Bear to get to use real China.  She asked if it was made in China (no) and then spent the rest of the tea party asking questions about China and when we are going to China because she has never been there and she needs to go. 

All in all, we had a lovely time and I will definitely do this again.  Until then, I will be on the look out for a teapot of my own!

Summer Fun

So Summer is in full swing (as if you can't tell by the sweltering heat outside!)  With summer has come a burst of crafting and sewing for me.  Though we homeschooled last year and school flowed easier into the summer, I am trying to make summer different and special.  We spend most of our time at home and it can get monotonous very easily!  So in my internet researching last week I discovered the idea of the Summer Fun jar!  So I made one of my own:

      Every day Bear picks an activity out of the jar and we do it!  So far we've made clothespin dolls, colored our entire sidewalk, took a trip to the library, colored hot rocks and tomorrow we are sending a homemade card.  This gives her something to look forward to and helps me fill the time.  I also made them some bean bags and colored some rice for them to play in.  So far it's all been a big hit!  And it's helping on these crazy hot days when it's just TOO hot to go outside.  Here are a few pics from our adventures so far and I will keep adding from here on out.  I'll try and give you links to some of the projects that I found online and copied...That way you can try it too!

 Clothespin Dolls

 

What's Up Weekly Board

bean bags!

Hot rocks!

We made our own chalk!

Playing in colored rice!