Ta-ta for now

In the interest of making sure none of you readers think I have fallen off the planet and are never to return, I need to write this news bulletin.

My college decision is due May 1. I will not be blogging between now and then.

And if you don't get comments on your blog from me...it's not because I'm offended (and if I am offended...I'll forgive you ;) or don't like you. I just need to set aside these days to really seek after the Lord and find His heart for what's up next.

If you're coming here for the first time only to find that -oh no! she hasn't written anything in the last ten days! - fret not...I'll be back (I think) once this deal is taken care of. In the meantime feel free to check out some of those links on my sidebar (for serious...I really like these people. Check 'em out.) Or some older posts you might enjoy: On the Significance of Children, Blue Wool, or, my personal favorite, Shoop.

See you in May!

These are stuck in my head.

The Fabulous Bentley Brothers must be geniuses.  For reals.  I like these almost too much.

First, 2 Samuel. Don't forget to catch the line about how touching the ark is "curtains for you".




And 2 Chronicles: how else would I learn all the kings of Judah? "Jehoahaz out, Jehoiakim in...courtesy of the Egyptians!"

These guys are on "Jelly Telly", the new project of Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales.  They produce something similar to a tv show for kids every weekday, all about Biblical concepts and God's creation.  It's great!  

Fascinated

I could watch the waves forever.  

Something about the way they roll perfectly, creating a glossy curve as they try to reach from the ocean to touch the sky.  Something about the way they slide, slide, grow, and then crash to make foamy power.  Something about how they just keep coming.  Something about how each one is different even though they do almost the same thing.

Why do the waves fascinate me?  I don't know...  I'm not a nature person and usually can't just wait in one place for the sake of watching something, but today I just stood, and I watched.  I tried to let the picture speak to me of the love of God.

There were moments when it seemed like the foam almost reached my toes, only to recede back just before touching me.  That reminded me of how the Lord is our protector -- how things that could so easily overcome me are held back by the hand of Jesus that tenderly holds us and fiercely protects us.  There's a line in a song by Barry & Michelle Patterson that's a favorite: "He is warring your undoing..."

And then there were the multiple moments where you stand on the sand, staring at the ocean, only to have your toes then ankles all of a sudden baptized by a cool wash of salty water...and then how can you help but remember how Jesus pours His love on us in ways that absolutely overtake who and where we are?

Oh Jesus, overtake where I am.  I'm waiting on you to speak.  Come Jesus.  Holy Spirit, rise up within me.

***

For the record, I received notice of my acceptance to the University of Puget Sound today!  This is very good, because it's one of my top 3 options.  I would love to live back in Tacoma!  When I spent the summers there, I was convinced that I must come back to live.  We'll see!

Adventures of the Beach

The ocean is a many splendored thing.  

Argh.  A many splendored thing...I also think about love a lot at the beach.  Let's not all start singing the song. ;)

I like the thought of sticking my earbuds in and walking down the beach, just me and Jesus...I haven't done that yet, but just the thought calms my heart.  There's a big comfy chair on the enclosed veranda here, looking out at the ocean.  It's the perfect size to roll myself up and journal.  You know something is going on when I want to journal -- that's unlike me. Usually I just force myself to write stuff down because I love going back and reading where I've been -- I coerce my hand to write so that my heart can read later.

I went in the pool today after running.  It was lovely, except I felt like any splashes or noise I made would ruin the retirement of the couple laying out next to the water.

I'm not sure what else to tell you except that I can never thank Jesus enough for how good He has been to me...in introducing me to the Bohlenders, and Katrina, and Christina, and Jessica, and everyone else who has become my Kansas City family.  I do realize I am crazy blessed, and you all need to know that YES!  Jesus is this good.

Oh, and, I may try my phone tonight.  I rinsed it out with fresh water (to get the salt out), vacuumed it (the Bell Captain who brought it up to me in the hotel was dubious of how well that could work), let it air out, let it sit in dry rice overnight and do more drying today...I'm hoping it will work but wondring if I should leave it longer...  And yes, I'm praying for it to work too.

The ocean

Florida is a wonderful place because there is an ocean.

And the ocean is a wonderful place because it is big and powerful and beautiful and loud.

And sitting in front of something that is big and powerful and beautiful and loud is the perfect place to talk to Jesus.

And I need to talk to Jesus.  

And I need Jesus to talk to me.

"Many waters cannot quench love..."

                                                Song of Solomon 8:7

Vacation

In Atlanta...the IKEA run, with a baby moby-d to me!

Katrina feeding a baby in the light of our first Florida sunset...

The beach!  The beach!  It's real!!

When in Florida, the baby must be allowed to play among the palm fronds.

The shuttle launch:  First me and Katrina, then the whole Bohlender clan, then Grayson.

***

Tonight, Jackson, Katrina and I went for a walk down the beach (in the dark).  It was lovely, walking there in our bare feet next to the roar of the waves and getting our feet baptized every time one came up.  Well, it was lovely until a huge wave came rolling in, we all jumped to run away from it, and my phone jumped out of my pocket and into the water.  Praise the Lord I found it, because it was dark and it SO easily could have been carried out to sea, only to be found and eaten by some poor sea turtle out there somewhere mistaking it for a jellyfish.

We dismantled it right away, dried it off, and went on our merry way.  It is currently sitting open, drying hopefully.  I am hopeful, because I spilled lemon-honey water on my computer once and it is okay -- the space bar is still a little sticky, but at least it runs.  I prayed over it quite a bit that time, and I'm hoping my phone makes it.  Jesus can heal electronics!  Although, I'm kind of in limbo about believing He would want to heal my phone, because, well, I use my phone a lot...especially to twitter.  And while twitter deepens my friendships, it also may hold a bit more of an important place than it should.  Anyways, I don't know what Jesus thinks about my phone dropping in the ocean, but I'm hoping it survives.

If only I had a vacuum cleaner...

That was Cool. With a capital C.

Today we left Atlanta and ventured into the strange world of Florida.  You know you've crossed the state line when the roads get wide, clean, smooth, white...and there's just a feel in the air.  The sky is blue all of a sudden, and I ended up saying: "God, why did you make Florida the way you did?  Thanks...I like it."

We checked into our hotel (yay for priceline!  Oceanfront Hilton for $45 a night!).  Katrina and I have the most spectacular view.  We got to experience the beach a little, but the most exciting thing ended up being the space shuttle.

Yes, I said space shuttle.  We're about 30 miles south of Cape Canavrel, and there was a launch scheduled for today! (It wasn't originally supposed to be today -- I just think it turned out to be such a gift from the Lord.  We totally didn't plan it!)  It was crazy.  The fire ball was unlike any other, and the line of orange smoke it left in the sky lasted For-EVER!  Randy took my camera hostage for the night so as to get the pictures and video himself, so I'll just have to point you to his blog to see the one he posted...maybe I can try to get more up tomorrow.  Seriously, it was awesome.  We heard the sonic boom quite a while after it lifted off, and the beach was just filled with people watching (yes, we watched from the beach!).  Definitely a memory.

Just in case you were wondering

For the record, we made it to Atlanta.

And we went to IKEA.  Again.  And it was tiring.  Again.  And I had lovely, lovely Swedish meatballs.  Again.  And I bought lingonberries.  Two jars this time.

And we went to Trader Joe's.  Oh, the bliss.  I bought treats for myself, besides taking orders from back home.  I love (in no particular order) yogurt covered pretzels, Unburied Treasure, apple rings, apple rings, and more apple rings.

I can't believe I'm in Georgia.  This is my first time (other than being in the airport) and really the only convictions I have about it so far are these:

• One must drink sweet tea while in Georgia.  I have to yet to do this, but it is DEFINITELY on my list.
• The dogwoods are in bloom, which makes it feel like spring.  And Kelsey loves them which makes me happy.
• Atlanta has warm weather, I'm convinced of it.  Even if it is cold right now...it was warm when we got here, and I am still a believer.
• They have Chipotle just like everybody (*cough* except for where Sam and Dora get stationed *cough*) else.
• The roads are nice and paved.  Like, clean and smooth. 

Alright, people.  Katrina and I have night duty with the babies...pray they sleep well!

Live from Nasvhille...

As you may have noticed, I tried to post from Jackson's iPhone on the trip down here.  It didn't quite work, as you also may have noticed, but hey!  at least you knew I was alive.

We just spent the night in Nashville.  Driving in, I got to see the Batman building and was reminded of all the good times of the Nashville missions trip a few years ago.

Me and Katrina had baby duty, and, let's just say babies do not have the same sleep schedule as we do.  Multiple times through the night Katrina just exclaimed in disbelief, and when they woke up around 8 am, I just took Mercy, put her in bed next to me, totally fell asleep while feeding her the bottle, and then she slept in the crook of my arm for the next two hours.  Once she woke up, she slapped her fist into my cheek repeatedly until I got her up and did something different with her.

Another day of driving....not so long this time.  That's good, because, I have long legs and on roadtrips, that's not the best.  To Atlanta we go!  

"I could blog from the road...how cool would that be?!"

""""iiok cojkfcould

Nashville First

Then Atlanta...then Florida.  

I'm going on a road trip!  Me, Katrina, the Bohlenders, one 12 passenger van, a trailer, and too many pairs of flip flops are going on vacation!

I'm going to miss the prayer room and the nieces and nephews and the sister and the brothers-of-the-law.  

I'm not going to miss the freezing cold temperatures.  

I hope I don't get a sunburn...who thinks I can make two weeks in Florida without a sunburn?? ME! (yeah right!)

To keep updated on how the vaca is going, just check out my twitter feed!! (---->)

In case you need a little something to make your heart smile while I'm gone -- check out the cuteness that is Samuel.

On the Significance of Children

Last fall I had the privilege of taking Allen Hood's class The Excellencies of Christ.  One of my favorite stories he told was from before he and his wife had any children -- I don't remember the specifics of how it all came about, but I think it had something to do with him deciding he wanted to wait a long time before they started a family.  Basically, the story goes that his wife called him out on it: "I don't think you have Jesus' heart for children,"  he started studying what Jesus really thought about kids, and a year later they were holding their oldest son Samuel.

I think the church needs to be called out just like Allen did.  

We have to recognize how strategic children are, and we have to stare honestly at the fact that we have allowed our views to be shaped by the world.  

Those few years when a person is a baby being taught for the first time the ways of life (and hopefully the ways of Christ) are imperative to their heart-development.   "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  So much of what we know, how we feel, and what we think is formed while we are children.  The love our parents show us (or neglect to show us) while we are small shapes the rest of our lives.  

Jesus valued the time He spent with children.  He saw it is a priority, He decided it was a lesson He needed to teach straight-forward to His disciples.  Why is it so easy for us to de-value time with children?  

We have to recognize that our enemy is strategic...he knows children are important, so he goes full force at de-valuing them in the eyes of the adults around them.  I feel like I can tangibly see the world's hatred of children (and that's what it is) growing steadily.  Did you see this article?

Or remember this post about Speaker Pelosi's comments on reducing costs by reducing the number of children born?  The contempt for children isn't even hidden anymore!  What about abortion -- could hatred of LIFE and children be any more clear?  I think this question has proved most convicting for me: When was the last time you saw a woman with many children and felt sorry for her?

It's no secret how the enemy has gone full-force against parenthood.  Fathers abandon their children left and right, and mothers are taught by the system of the world that it is more important to fulfill themselves than pour into their children.  Have you noticed how the world looks down on a woman who gives herself fully to raising and pouring into her children?  That is NOT the way God sees it!  Did you know He says children are a reward and a blessing?  

Did you know that one of the things that are on the TOP of God's list that He calls you to do as a Christian is giving care to the children that otherwise wouldn't be cared for:

James 1:27

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Don't even get me started on the need for an adoption movement that will take in every child that needs a home, regardless of their physical condition or history.

Once you get to know me, it doesn't take long for you to find out that my greatest dream is to raise children.  Of course right now I can't do that, but I can invest time and energy into little ones all the same...  Some days (ha!  a lot of days!) it's a battle to believe that every time I love Glorie, or encourage Judah that he's a might man of God, or pray with Ariel before school for Jesus to give her overflowing JOY!, or sing with the kids on Sunday night about the River of Life flowing out of them makes a difference.

Friends, invest in children around you.  Take the time to examine exactly what your views have been about children, and then think about Jesus'.  Jesus gave you YOUR amazing design before you were born...maybe you didn't have people around you to speak it into you.  Maybe no one told you you were a mighty man of God like David or that your beautiful smile told everyone around you how joyful Jesus is.  Children can walk in the power of God, but someone has to teach them that they can!

And if you are a kids' worker in any way shape or form (nanny, sunday school teacher, kids' room attendant at the YMCA...), BLESS YOU!  You are making a difference in the world, because when you make a difference in one little one you change the world because you helped shape them into who God made them to be -- and God made them in a way that will change the world.

Oh, children are anything but insignificant.  They deserve so MUCH attention, and so MUCH love, and so MUCH devotion.  We have to get the mind of Christ about kids so that we can non-stop combat what the world tells them they are: that littleness = insignificance.  That you are worth what you can do, and kids can't do much.  That being led by someone else is demeaning, yet the truth is that children are meant to be led and kept safe by their parents.  

Next time you see a child, ask the Lord who He made them to be.  Then tell them.  If He says He made them for joy, tell them their smile lights up the room.  If He tells you they have a strength from God, encourage them that they never have to be afraid.  Tell them they will hear his voice!  Tell them they are important!  

Love them, because Jesus does.

Exodus Cry

Human trafficking is something the Lord has begun to speak to me about since I moved to Kansas City. It actually seems like he's begun speaking to a lot of people -- this is the most recent video from the organization being started here at IHOP to combat this injustice... There's a fire here about working justice in a way that preaches the gospel, and that is such an important issue to address. Watch the video, and check out www.exoduscry.com.

Exodus Cry: The Call to Battle from Exodus Cry on Vimeo.

A list

I don't know what I could write, because my heart feels like a storm, but you don't always want to put your storms on the internet for the world to see. I'll go with a list instead:

• I skyped with Vicky in Mongolia! I love her.
• Chipotle is yummy, and I went yesterday.
• But I ate my burrito with a fork.
• I don't understand my heart.
• I wish it was all easier.
• I'm going to Florida next Wednesday.
• I don't want to get a sunburn.
• Tried to go for a run yesterday, it turned into a very long walk.
• Where am I going to college??
• Am I going to college at all??
• My nephew is cute.
• Chloe and her dad might be coming to visit! I'm pretty sure nothing sounds better to my heart.
• "His lovingkindness has yet to fail me."
• "All I want is You, and all I need is found only in Your heart..." Chorus from Ron's sets recently -- it's amazing.
• The Lord is enough for me.
  

Pains of Growth

I had an accidental eBay purchase.  I mean, I remember thinking about it, and deciding nothing bad would come from bidding, and pressing "BID" button of doom, but then I forgot all about it.  Next thing I know, I am getting an e-mail that I won my eBay item.  "What ebay item??" I ask myself, then remember.

A couple weeks ago I watched Fireproof with Suz and OJ.  Okay, so it's not the greatest acting you've ever seen, BUT it was jam-packed with truth about marriage, and I ended it feeling like "Wow.  Somebody who was never taught how to love his wife well could actually learn something from this movie."  I would say that's worth more than good acting.

Anyways, it sent my sister on a Kirk Cameron research-stint.  She watched his interviews on Good Morning America about the movie, and found out fun things about his family (his first on-screen kiss was to the girl who later became his wife!).  What earns him the most points in my book is that four of his six children are adopted.  YAY!

This also sent Suz on a time of reminiscing about the wonders of Growing Pains...which led me to think that she would get a kick out of having the show on DVD around.

Which led me to bidding on something on ebay.  Guess?  The First Season of Growing Pains!  It came today, and I'm currently looking for people to come watch it with me tomorrow night while I babysit a sleeping Glorie.  I've never even seen a whole episode.

This should be interesting.