Terrific Twos! Happy Birthday, John Ellis!

We celebrated John Ellis and the 2 years of life that God has given him.  We are thankful to have him as part of our family.  What a blessing!  His strong personality brings us both joy and many opportunities for personal growth.  As the youngest brother, he doesn’t let the big boys push him around!  He can stand his ground and has a resilient  spirit that we are believing God will use to bring His Kingdom in even greater measure to this earth! 

We have been on a Haiti Transformed team retreat so we didn’t celebrate too much as we were travelling home all day on his birthday and didn’t get home until late afternoon.  He is the birthday boy with his breakfast at the retreat.  I did  a bit of handy work on his pancakes!

Last night (Jan 20th, his actual birthday) we looked back with our family at pictures of the night of his birth and told the boys the story of John Ellis’ birth.  John Ellis wasn’t feeling well this past weekend, we had been travelling all day and he was exceptionally tired last night so we called an early night and planned to celebrate tonight instead.

Jody picked up pizza from the lone pizza place in Leogane, Haiti (at least that we know about!).  It is fairly new and fairly decent…I wouldn’t pick it as a place to get pizza in the States, but it is pretty good by our standards in Haiti! =)

The boys trying to teach John Ellis to hold up 2 fingers.

After dinner, we invited our neighbors and team leaders over for cake.  It was our first birthday in Haiti and I was glad to have friends to celebrate with us the sweetness of John Ellis.

Opening his gift and celebrating with our team leaders and their kiddos.

Enjoying some cake!  Such a big boy!  And soon to be a big brother any day!

 

We love you John Ellis!

Prayer Hogs.

We have been basking in the glow of many prayers and encouragements from this past weekend.  It was our last Sunday at our home, Antioch Community Church, so we attended all of 2 services and part of another!  It was a long day but super worth it.  At the beginning of each service, we were surrounded and prayed over by our friends and family.  People who love us, support us and encourage us to greater things in the Kingdom.  It seems strange to think that we will not be back to worship with our Antioch family for quite a while.  It is one of the top things we will miss while being gone.

I felt a bit like a prayer hog.   We have been prayed over by so many people recently but still at the end of the 3rd service, my husband grabbed my hand and up we went during ministry time for more prayer from a specific couple that Jody has been wanting to have pray over us for some time now.  (They raised FIVE boys with God’s help so…that explains why.)

That evening we saw on Twitter this picture:

She was one of the teachers in Lucas’ class and knew it was our last Sunday in Waco so she had the rest of the 3 year olds pray over Lucas and send him out as a missionary.  Sweeter than all things sweet!  It made me cry. 

I am so thankful for our church that doesn’t “dumb” down the things of God and the His Kingdom to our children but instead encourages them to live it out now!  It is unnecessary to wait to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus till adulthood!  These little ones have powerful insight into the Kingdom of Heaven that isn’t messed up by adult thinking. Wow!  Thanks Courtney for initiating this.

Luke 18:15-17 (MSG)  People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them.  When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off.  Jesus called them back.  “Let these children alone.  don’t’ get between them and me.  These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy.  Mark this:  Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”

Tonight we are going to our last LifeGroup before leaving tomorrow.  They are going to pray over us.  Then tomorrow we meet at our church parking for our send off…where they will pray over us before we head out.

Prayer Hog.  Yup.

I Love The Way You Hold Me

Do you ever feel like you are doing it alone? I do. Sometimes I think it is me against the world. Like I have to make life worth living, perform to get the most out of life. I strive to make myself and my family joyful...like I can work hard enough to get to IT. I am still not exactly what IT is yet but I fool myself into thinking that someday I will know when ever we have arrived. Whenever we are THAT family...you know, that family that everyone desires to be part of. I guess a cross between a great movie family and those families at church that seem to "have it all together". =)

It sounds silly in print but if I am honest...I still have those thoughts sometimes. But today, I am resting in the truth of God and not believing the lies of the enemy. I have the perfect family! We are FOR SURE in process and the process is sweetness and exactly what I want and exactly what I need.

I look back over just the past year of my life and the life of my family and wow. wow. wow! We have been held so lovingly by the Lord. I love the way He holds us! He knows the perfect way to love us and like a really good Daddy gives us abundantly more than we could ever ask or need. I am so thankful that He gives us what we REALLY want and need...opposed to what WE think we want. I am learning to trust Him. That He really knows best and really can be trusted to do what is best for us. Without my own interference.

Just a quick look back on my past year. This is how the Lord has held me. This is what I'm thankful for.

~Boys. Wiggly, snuggly, toe-lint picking boys.
~Being adored by the 4 most handsome guys I know.
~Travel...with all it's joys and hardships. What a privledge to see God's handiwork first hand.
~Seeing God's provision through the body of Christ.
~Dancing and singing with my family.
~Homeschooling and teaching my boys.
~Listening to Josiah & Lucas count.
~Watching Josiah perfect his coloring skills and the joy he has when he stays in the lines!
~A husband who is courageous.
~A husband who loves me...and ice cream! =)
~Friends. LifeGroup. Teammates.
~Little boys who beg me to make up stories for them before bed.
~3 Brothers.
~To be part of a movement of Christ that is transforming the world.
~Extended family.
~Rodeos...especially the ones in my living room when I get to be the announcer and watch my little cowboys.
~Laundry, dishes, diapers, messy rooms, grocery shopping.
~Hilarious co-workers.
~Reading.
~Watching 3 boys, a daddy and a dog wrestle and play.
~Candles & Fireplaces.
~Training schools & people who push me to go further than I think possible.
~People who forgive me...no matter what.
~God. Who never leaves us alone. Who draws me into relationship with him. Who desires to be with me.

When does it end? Every good and perfect gift is from my God (James 1:17). Can I stop being thankful? Stop counting my blessings? They are as numerous as the stars. You are so good.

Lord, I love the way you hold me.

(Our current fav family song: Hold Me by Jamie Grace)

Autumn...

Autumn weather was back today in Waco and I am very thankful...yesterday I sweated it out but refused to turn the a/c back on...it was so muggy and hot that today's cool breezes were more than welcome...

This is my favorite time of year. The crisp autumn air that sneaks in on summer always refreshes me and puts a bounce back in my step...plus, I really enjoy decorating for the fall season. Jody has been making Josiah come up to me several times everyday asking, "can we decorate a Christmas tree??" (um...a little early!) I love Christmas decor too, but this year I want autumn to linger a little longer.

The mums that I planted last year came back so well...I bought them with expectation of them being annuals and am thankful to get another season out of them.

I spent the afternoon in the front yard with the boys waiting for Jody to get home from work. We spent most of our time playing "LifeGroup" on Josiah's direction. I am so thankful that I am able to stay at home with my boys and see them grow up. I have been amazed at how quickly they are growing up...everyday I see Josiah's imagination exploding. He is so much fun and Lucas just wants to be near him all the time. I can already see Lucas being that little brother who follows big brother around...ofcourse, Josiah loves it and I pray that continues throughout their childhood. Something about today...sitting on the front steps watching the boys play together--I just felt special and thankful to be their mom. They are my favorite little blessings (Jody is my favorite big blessing!). =)