Family Day

We are in Florida right now attending some meetings,  Because of how tight the meetings were packed together it left very little time to stop in to see our kids.  However, we did squeeze in a few hours with Glenn & Ruth, then we quickly drove to Zachary & Elisha's to spend a few hours with them.  Although we wish we would have had a LOT more time with all of them, it was so fun to have to see them again and enjoy making a few more memories together.  Ruth took us to a Venezuelan food truck.  So we were able to combine two fun things with enjoy:  Great Venezuelan food while enjoying Great Company.  Zachary treated us to Peruvian chicken which was super yummy! So in less then 24 hours we saw our North Carolina kids and were on the road again.   That was way too quick but oh so fun!

A Quarter-Century

Twenty Five years ago God blessed us with our 4th child, our precious daughter, Ruth Emily.  In the blink of an eye she has gone and grown up on us.  She has added so much joy into our lives and family.   Her vibrant personality made sure there was never a dull moment in our house when she was around.  We thank the Lord for the tender hearted person she is.  

Happy 25th Birthday Ruth! We thank the Lord for you and your life.  It is a joy to see how the Lord has used you to touch so many peoples' lives.  We are cheering you on as you continue to embrace the new opportunities before you.  May God continue to use you to impact this world for Christ!  Have a VERY Happy 25th Birthday!  We love you!

An Ordinary Man

Today I am celebrating the life of an ordinary man.  This man hasn't found the cure for any disease.  He has not written any amazing songs or books.    He hasn't climbed the highest mountain.  He is an ordinary man.   But how I thank the Lord for letting an ordinary imperfect woman like me, meet and marry an ordinary man like Vern.   He has used this ordinary man in so many amazing ways.  How I thank the Lord that he is still in the job of using ordinary people.  Happy 53rd Birthday Vern!  Thanks for being a wonderful father and amazing grandfather.  Thanks for being my husband and for walking down this road of life together with me. You have turned ordinary days into a lifetime of precious memories.  May God continue to use you to reach this world for Christ.

Look Back, Looking Forward

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE to decorate.  However,  I do not enjoy taking down decorations.  We were going to take our Christmas tree and decorations down yesterday but something came up that changed our plans.  So this morning we were working on getting everything packed up and put into storage.  I reluctantly  started taking the ornaments off the tree, sad that we would not longer enjoy the glow of the Christmas tree.  

However, it did no take me long to be overwhelmed with God's goodness and faithfulness to me.  Our Christmas tree is not anything that you would see in a nice fancy restaurant or department store.  We have a bunch of mismatched ornaments.  But our tree is a constant reminder of God meeting my hearts need.  When we were not able to return to our ministry in South America, we lost everything we owned.  But one of the things I had really wanted from our home was our Christmas ornaments which represented years of family memories.  

When we moved to Ontario and were coming up to the Christmas season I knew it was going to be sad to put up a tree without our ornaments.  We had some family come and visit us for American Thanksgiving.  And without us knowing anything about it, many family and friends from Chicago got together and sent us an ornament for our tree.  As I took those ornaments off the tree this morning I was reminded once again of each person who sent an ornament to fill our tree.  Although they might have thought they were just sending something to fill our tree, those ornaments represent God's faithfulness to us in meeting our needs, not only physical but emotional as well.  Each ornament also reminds me of the special people God has put in our lives to cheer us on.  As I took those ornaments off the tree this morning, I spent some time praying for each family.  I also shed some tears just thinking of how God provided new and special ornaments for our tree and how he used it as a reminder of his grace and faithfulness to us as a family.  Our hearts were still grieving leaving the mission field and God used this first Christmas and these special ornaments to bless us in a special way.  It was like a hug sent down from above.  

As we are only two days into 2016, the whole year is still ahead of us.  Like every year, there will be many joyous times but there will be many challenges that we will face as well. I was so thankful this morning,  through the simple task of packing away our christmas decorations, of the reminder from the Lord that He is walking beside me.  We need those reminders in life of how God has been faithful to us in the past and how he will continue to be faithful to us in the future.    

Psalm 89:8 "O Lord God almighty!  Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord? Faithfulness is your very character."

The Last Fling of 2015

Last night we had the kids and grandkids over.  It was a different New Years Eve for us as  Caleb had to go into work a 12 hour shift today.  Camille worked a 12 hour shift yesterday and has to work a 12 hour night shift tonight.  But we did enjoy one last party together as a family for 2015.  Since some of our grandchildren (and children) needed to get to bed we went outside to bang our pots and pans at 9:30 so they could enjoy celebrating the beginning of a NEW YEAR!  I of course still went out at midnight to do the official ringing in the New Year and banged my pots and pans again.  There were many joys as well as challenges in 2015.  It is always good to look back to see the faithfulness of the Lord through it all.  As we enter 2016 what a joy and comfort to know that whatever lays ahead, God will be there with us.