For the glory of it all

On our journey home from Costa Rica, we were delayed at DFW. We were allotted a little more than an hour to get off our flight, get through customs, go to luggage claim, go back through security and then catch our next flight. With 52 people. Oy vey. Long story short, a storm came, the luggage conveyor shut down, we missed our flight. One of our youth, Bert, had already scheduled to go to UT for his freshman orientation. There needed to be an adult traveling back with him, so I was nominated. We gate-hopped about 6 times getting on standby trying to catch a flight.

On the last gate of the night, I saw this man. I thought to myself that he looked familiar, but couldn't logically place him. Then, it clicked. I asked W if he thought said man was David Crowder. We all started analyzing and trying to decide if it was him or not. I finally pulled up a pic on my iPhone from google, walked up to him, and said "hey, is this you?" He laughed and obliged. We all talked for a minute and we told him how much we appreciated his ministry. So, we met David Crowder. Cool.

The entire 12 days before that in Costa Rica I'd listened to a song by DCB called "The Glory of it All." All week. Over and over each day. I was struggling with being away from our children and the words continually pointed me to the cross. I was there for the glory of it all. We were there for the glory of it all.

Since we've been home, we've had these crazy attacks from enemy. I mean absurd. Some of them have come from people close to us, and well... that sucks. It truly hurts. I mentioned in my post Cinco that your words are weapons. James chapter 3 verse 5 is one of the many scriptures that reference our tongues: "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!"

And even when it hurts from people we love, we press on loving God with our hearts, heads, hands... for the glory of it all. As it says in the song "after all falls apart, He repairs, He repairs." If you've ever been of the receiving end of an attack like this, you kind of feel like your heart is in shambles. God is so faithful to repair though.

I get to continue to love these people in the midst of a forest fire of the mouth, for the glory of it all.

There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Proverbs 20:15

Cinco

I've started about 5 different blogs in my mind, yet can't seem to get them typed out. Upcoming (meaning you know, coming up in the next YEAR) I'd love to write about:

-My first DIY refinishing furniture experience for Sam's new room. (Her room, it's PINK! PINK, Mama!)

-I deleted Facebook. Clearly the world must be coming to an end.

-We're officially a home educating family! It's going great!

-Your words are weapons.

-And the fifth must have had something to do with a little thing called my children. They're growing up before my eyes.

We'll see which posts come out when... they are in no particular order! Hope to hear from some of my abandon Facebook friends, too. Don't lurk, let me know you're there.

What's cooler than having your picture made with a cardboard fire cow?

See Me Through

I have been listening to this song everyday for the past week. The funny thing is that I have had the album (how do you say this now that one doesn't actually have the CD? Album seems so dated.) for over a year yet have never listened to this song.

God knows just what we need when we need it.

Last week I was coming back to town and this song came on. I had to pull over until the tears ceased flowing because I couldn't see the road. There have been a few things so heavy on my heart lately and at this point I was finally able to release them to the Lord. It's funny how we try to hold on to things ourselves.

Ever since that point, I have felt so much freedom from these situations I was carrying. I have known the scripture "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" for many years, yet I experienced it in the purest form these last few days.

So, have a listen. I pray the Lord ministers to you as He has to me.

Our youth

One month ago yesterday, I stepped foot onto the beautiful soil of Costa Rica. I haven't stopped thinking about the trip since then. Now I know when people come back from mission trips each has a testimony, each has a story. I do have my story, but I feel like I have 13 other stories as well. What blessed me beyond belief was seeing our youth minister, seeing our youth bless others, seeing them be blessed.

For the past 5 years we have watched them grow up. We have laughed with them, cried with them, tried not to pull our hair out over them, loved them. They have matured beautifully into young men and women of the Lord.

Our church here is a traditional church. The Methodist church in Costa Rica was very charismatic. During the worship some people were dancing, some danced with flags. Many raised their hands in worship and were very passionate. Our first Sunday there was Father's Day and all the fathers came to the front. The children surrounded them and we all stretched out our hands to pray for them. W and I have been in every church imaginable, so all of this wasn't a shock for us. The youth, being in a different kind of church though, did awesome. They worshiped God alongside the Costa Ricans and never questioned the differences.

During the mornings when we worked remodeling the church, they gave it their all. Cleaning, scraping, sanding, painting...I never heard a complaint.



For 3 days a few of us worked on a gate in the back of the church. We had to clean it with wire brushes then sand it, then paint it. Both sides of this huge 12 foot wall. On the other side of the gate was an alleyway where homeless people would come and use the bathroom (both #1 and #2). It smelled awful. Doris, one of the women at the church came and power washed the #2s away but it was still rough smelling. Our youth pressed on, finished the job and had a great attitude the whole way.



I love these teenagers. I feel like they teach me how to be a better person and look to the Lord all the more. And they make me laugh :)

Home School!

Have you ever categorized people? I know growing up there were the grunge kids and the preppy ones. In college there the working students and non-working students. As a young married couple, it was hard not to be despondent to see others with nice houses and new vehicles. Maybe it still is.

Well, now comes a new category in our life. Home education! Before I continue, watch this...




I, personally, am excited. T-Pup is excited. He can't wait to be able to read, and is already doing awesome with some basic phonics. He loves math. One of his favorite things is for me to make a little puzzle with different quantities of shapes on one side and the corresponding numbers on the other side. Can you feel my excitement?

I'm not so naive to think that each day is going to be a stroll through the daisies. Someone once told me with children some days are rocks and some days are diamonds, and you're reminded of the diamonds on the rock days. I can't help but think this will be no different.

Would you believe me if I told you everyone NOT in the home education arena whom I have told has asked me one question? Can you guess what that question is?

But what about his socialization?

Oh, I'm not worried about that. I'll open the blinds 3x a week for 10 minutes each. You can imagine the response that gets.

Why would I start prohibiting his socialization now? If you have ever met T-Pup, he is quite the socialite. And pretty darn cute, too.

No one (again, outside of this new category) has expressed any concern to me other than his socialization.

So, once again we see these categories in life. And once again, I feel we're on the road less traveled.

And I'm ok with that.

Wordless Wednesday

Catch up

I'm hoping our schedule has slowed down a little bit for the time being. The annual youth ski trip is now behind us. We had a great time! T-Pup got to ski and really enjoyed it. We all went tubing Saturday afternoon and W got a precious video of T-Pup as they were tubing down. He LOVED it! Sam on the other hand... well, we had to come back down on foot instead of a tube. Maybe she'll be a bigger fan of it next year. Or the next :)

I love my children dearly, but whew, a 2 and a 4 year old together makes a great combo for partners in crime. While I was in the shower yesterday they got into the kitchen cabinet and consumed about 20 Reese's cups (the mini ones). Maybe when they're 3 and 5 it'll be less eventful? Or not :)

Also yesterday held their first dental cleaning. Boy oh boy... they did not enjoy it. T-Pup has 3 cavities :( but I was really anticipating that. He has just started to love brushing his teeth in the past 6-8 months. Before that it was a battle. And by battle I mean holding him down in my lap, prying his mouth open, and getting what I could without the jaws of life closing in on my fingers. Sam on the other hand has loved all things dental since she could get into them. I wish I could count how many rolls of floss she's gone through to chew on. Wait, I can... 3. (3) 500 yard rolls of floss. 1500 yards of floss. Yep.

So, do you think the day he gets the cavities filled they will let us both have Nitris? That may be the only way I can get through it :)

On a more "me" note, I have been slap worn out lately. Physically and spiritually. Sometimes it feels like I give and give and never get back.... which I know isn't true. "You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over." There is always more of the Lord. Always. I read this last week and it brought SUCH encouragement to me:

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28

He understands where I am (where my family is) and it doesn't tire him out. He continues to fill my cup, even when I don't realize it. Wow... I'm so grateful for that.

So, that's about the extent of where we are this week. W's spring break is next week so hopefully he can get some down time when he isn't working. And I hope to post a few pictures of the ski trip soon too.