The Path

I went on a quick run this morning in preparation for departing for our all-too-familiar-road-trip to CO. We are actually taking the girls skiing for their first time this year! Usually, we drop them at the grandparents and hit the slopes ourselves. We are about to experience it in a whole new way....

Anyway, on my run, I began an old series that Matt Chandle,r from the Village Church did last year. It is titled: "The Path." At the end of part 1, he starts talking about how there are no guarantees that any of us will live to be 70 years old. He went on to say he was sure he would be doing someone's funeral at that church within the year. Then he stated that someone could be doing his. My point in bringing all of this up is that Matt "has it!" Do you know what I mean when I say that he "has it?" He understands God and many of His mysteries have been revealed to him through the Word of God!!! He has a malignant brain tumor that was not encapsulated. (you can read about it here!) This means that they couldn't get it all in surgery. But, see, years ago before there was any evidence of anything growing on or around his brain, he was preaching the Word of God as if any of us (including him) could have such a thing! The importance of "having it" is going to mark how we live our lives in the face of such a trial.

Please watch THIS VIDEO from him two days before the surgery where they began to discover more about this tumor! He is in the face of an ugly trial and yet he stands firm on a platform for God's goodness and His glory to be revealed.

Video from Matt

This excites me so much that I too hope that I would consider such a diagnosis an honor to display God's character to those that need to see it! Do you "have it?" The mystery can be revealed. I so get that in the face of a trial you can still call God good! I get that He doesn't change when our circumstances do. May I live like I get it!!!! As I pray for Matt to have God's peace and for his family, will you join me that God would be glorified no matter the outcome? That the circumstances of this trial do not define God! But that God's goodness is displayed for all to see!

New Routine

Well, I remain "unplugged" during their awake time. I realized that I have to check in on my email because that is how I'm paying bills. So, today's new shot at the new routine went well. I guess I'll continue to post at night when I'm not being pulled with the other responsibility that I have here.

I am so sad to say that the main reason I am posting tonight is because Leslie died yesterday. This is a very long, but very well written post. Please pray for Tyson as he grieves the loss of his wife and T.J for the loss of his mother.

Unplugged

A huge part of my frustration here at camp has been that the Internet doesn't work in my room like it does in EVERY BODY ELSE'S. So, with that said. I am going to see how my week 3 goes without trying to walk to another room and post and check in daily.
Campers leave tonight and campers come tomorrow. This past week was great as we finally did the zip line (into a lake) slides (into the same lake) and the blob. Yes, I got injured on the blob. I don't think I'll be doing that one again. We're all over the zip line though.

My heart has been pretty black these last few days. I am in need of prayer. I despise my job and I'm feeling guilty for it. I bought the Children's version of Tom Sawyer to read to them this week. Hopefully during the time I've been spending running off to check email or post, I will choose to read to them and hold them and play with them. Things I typically don't enjoy doing. Please pray that in my efforts to do this, I find joy in the job of it. And that hopefully it won't feel like a job.

So, I'm unplugging in this effort to change how my heart feels about being here and my children's contentment level and their responses to me. Thanks for praying (if you do.)

Bugs

Okay, I am starting this post off with my complaint. I have 53 bug bites just on my legs. (thanks to Ashlyn counting them for me :) I am now going to start carrying around bug spray and possibly wear pants when I can stand it!
Other than that little complaint about bugs actually bugging me, I do have a prayer request:
I am already getting tired of the "Can We" questions. There is a lot to do here and I we have only done a little bit. But, once we finish anything, I'm inundated with "Can we go on the slide? Can we go on the swing? Can we go on the zip line? Can we go to the park? Can we play with (insert requested name)? Can we ride in the golf cart? Can we..... ? I think you get the point. It's always. AND THEN, after my answer, it is ALWAYS "Why?" Not, yes ma'am! I'm struggling in the training department. I'm feeling frustration come in with each disobedient action or each disrespectful response. I am in need of extra patience and grace!!!! Here are more pics though. I love that I carry my pack around because it has my camera in it and I am capturing a lot more than I thought I would.
Thanks for praying!!!!

Who am I?

I am ashamed of my last post. I won't delete it because I think transparency is beautiful. I can't even believe I complained in the slightest today. Due to transitioning computers I have not been reading all the blogs that I usually keep up with. I just spent the last half hour with such sorrowful tears for someone I don't even know. I've mentioned on a previous post for you to check out this blog for Leslie. Well, I just went and read everything this past month. Who am I to complain about any emotions? My gosh! I'm disgusted with myself and want all prayers and attention to be on this family. Please pray for Leslie, Tyson and T.J! Go to their blog archive and start at early May to know what they are facing at the end of a long 7 month journey.

Lord, I do pray that you will be their strength. We do know and trust that you are good. But, this doesn't look or feel good. Help them to know your promises so personally that they may carry Your truths and promises through this incredibly, difficult and dark time.

Still a Praise, but need some prayer

Dad is still in the Heart Hospital because since the stints were successfully placed, he has had some episodes with the rhythym of his heart. We are on day 5 up here. This Atrial Fib. his heart is doing is causing them to try different medications to get him stable before they can even think about sending him home.

One really cool miracle story I just couldn't wait to share was that we found out (after the fact) that the artery that they had to stint has a nickname of the "widow maker." It is the largest artery to the heart (the LAD) and if that is the one with the blockage, it is usually not a good outcome. Our nurse told us that we are a very blessed family. We are. God knows the time of when Daddy is going to be taken home and apparently it wasn't with this heart attack!

So, with that praise I still ask for prayer because we are still here and it's getting hard to stay in a Hospital for so long.

Return From Passion and Illness

On the drive down to the Passion Conference, fever swept over my body. I was so sad to have to spend the first night of the very short conference in my hotel room sick in bed.

That's right! I finally caught what my family has had, which I can only assume is the flu. It's strange the timing of it all. Now, here I am seven days later finally able to post. I don't think I'm totally in the clear yet as I've heard this thing can stick around for a couple of weeks. :(

But, about the conference. I did get to attend two out of the four sessions. Francis Chan knocked it out of the park! That guy is so gifted at delivering God's passionate heart to that age group. I have since lingered on his blog and enjoyed hearing his heart there too!

It's interesting to me that I could enter this conference in such a different place spiritually than before. The first time, I was a dry well in need of spiritual saturation. This time I was on the same page with this team of leaders and able to worship and pray with such unity! The heartbeat of that event is healthy and strong. Visit their blog if you want to stay in tune with what God is doing in and through them. Start with this post first because it was about our time in Dallas!

So, there is the update! So sorry it took so long. Thanks for all those that prayed and keep praying now for the health within my family and the many other families across our nation suffering with this bug.

Sick House

I am sick of being in a house full of sick people. Nick brought home the flu from a YL ski trip. He then passed it to Meg (because he cuddles her so much.) Then Ashlyn caught it, next Kenna and now I wait questioning every small thing going on in my body.

But this home full of sickness and cabin fever and modiness has me thinking about how sick we are in our natures. I swallow vitamins to help me fight off the germs. I drink orange juice as an act of defense. If I get this bug, I get it and I know I've done all I can to fight it.....including choosing to lay around feeling lazy instead of working out just to save my energy for fighting off the possibility of getting sick.

So, back to our natures. They aren't going anywhere until we enter the Kindgom of Heaven. We live with these natures. In the same way that I do preventitive actions to help fight off the flu, I need to daily equip myself for the war that I have within. I have been so downtrodden with my attitude about life. I have a negative attitude that I can't shake. I'm in the Word daily, so what's wrong?

Well, the gentle and ever-loving Holy Spirit reminded me that I am not praying enough. Sure, I shoot out darts of "Help me, Lord. I can't do this. I need You." And I truly do that all day long. That had me believing that I was praying without ceasing. But, The Holy Spirit allowed me to see the flaw in calling that "Prayer."

Oh Lord, I want to talk to you as much as I do my Mom and my blog. I want to turn to You first and foremost. Help me talk to You instead of shout out pleas for help. Thank you for being more patient with me than I am with my children. Help me to parent my children with the grace and mercy that you parent me. May my prayers be immune boosters to my weary soul.
Amen.

Uplifted

I felt so prayed for last night during our time presenting our testimonies. It was exhilarating! God was doing it all as we shared all that He has done and is doing in our lives!
Prior to sharing, I thought I was going to pass out because I was so nervous. My dad prayed for me. The church staff prayed for us behind closed doors. You all prayed and I really thought there was no way my heart would stop pounding and my shakes would subside. But, my brilliant husband had the idea for us to sit in comfortable chairs with handheld microphones rather than standing at a podium! That allowed me to settle in and talk openly and freely without jitters! Thanks to all who lifted us up in prayer!
I feel so humbled to be a part of the ministry of Young Life! If any of you are interested in supporting us or would like to receive our newsletters via email. Leave a comment and click the button on the comment box that allows us to email each other!
Now Nick and I are headed to the ASC (All Staff Conference) in Orlando, FL. My dear Mother will be watching our girls this week....if you'd like to pray for her! I'll be in touch after our conference.

Prayer

I've been thinking a lot lately about prayer, fasting and intercession. There are so many needs. I have a list that is so long of requests from dear frineds. It is a joy for me to be in a place to pray for them. The Holy Spirit has been so merciful in reminding me ever so gently about my friends. I also used the idea of hunger to remind me. It's kind of a not-fasting way of using the idea of fasting to commit more in prayer. It has worked for me all week so I thought I'd pass it along. AGAIN ~ this is not fasting nor is it taken from the Bible.

So, when my stomach growls, I think of who it is I've said I'd pray for and do it. I will usually pray for those people until the hunger pains subside. Then I eat. The next time I'm hungry, I do it again. It just helps me to focus and it could train you for your own readiness to begin fasting as a part of your life, when called to.

But I also struggle with having such long lists. They cause me to forget to spend time in simple Praise to God. He longs to be praised! May I suggest Ruth Meyer's "31 Days of Praise?" It is excellent!