community

A few days before we left for Ukraine, our community of friends came over to sit and talk and pray.  We were in the midst of running around like crazy people trying to line all things up for us to leave and were very much looking forward to a burst of energy from this night.  So much of this journey to Paulina has humbled us over and over again and this night, surrounded by these friends, was no different.

Our living room filled, voices were overflowing, excitement and joy were evident.  We sat together & they asked us for what they can do for us.  I had trouble answering because the reality is they've already done so very much.  They are part of the reason we are able to bring Paulina home in the first place.  They surround us and our family constantly with love & prayer & encouragement.  What else, they wonder?  And not just wonder, they genuinely long to know.  It blows my mind.  We talked through all the things we'd love prayer for and they jotted down notes.  Then going around the room, one by one, they prayed for us.  My dearest friend choked out several sentences before the tears got too much and I was crying right along with her.  These people sat alongside us that night and asked Jesus specifically to meet our needs and they did it with such genuine and real love for us.  I can't even grasp it all when I try.

When all had left that night & Andrew & I sat talking we kept saying, we are so blessed to have these friends surrounding us.  I can't get over the amount of sincerity and Christ-centered love that filled our home that night and our lives always because of these friends.  This group isn't perfect by any means but our imperfect lives being lived out together is a picture of the body of Christ to me.  And Christ was so evident in them that night to us and we are incredibly thankful.  Years ago, when we prayed for what our community might look like, we never even knew to ask for what God has given us.  So, to all of you who came that night, and to our family & so many others who are walking alongside life with us, we say thank you.

on turning 30

So this past weekend I turned 30.  I didn't really reflect too much on it all until my sweet friend, Heather, commented to me about living simply and being content.  That is when I realized that over the decade of my 20's my life changed. and changed. and changed.  I got married when I was 20, graduated college, moved 7 times, worked 3 jobs, lived in Africa, bought a mini-van, bought a house, added Madeline, Simeon, Anna, Cyrenthia & her baby Elijah to our home, and am now eagerly waiting on our daughter to come home.  I know I don't know what all the Lord will have for my 30's but it at least appears to me that it will be a life of less drastic changes for the next ten years.  Outside of course of watching my children grow to be in their teenage years (yikes!)  I really loved all those changes my 20's brought but certainly am looking forward to whatever is coming next.

On a celebratory note, I really have the greatest husband, family, & friends!  For my birthday Andrew spoke right into my quality time love bank and suggested a girls trip.  After talking it through we decided on Kansas City for a 3-day weekend and I will admit, I was a bit cautious.  I get so nervous asking friends to find childcare, spend money, and mostly I am just never a big fan of lots of attention on me.  I can't even put into words how greatly God blessed me with this weekend and these friends.  They (& their husbands :) made great sacrifices to make this weekend happen and went above and beyond to shower me with love and encouragement.  Our trip was filled with great conversations, lots of laughter, yummy food, tears, shopping, and very little sleep!  My friend Ginny says there is "curtain" conversation and "non-curtain" conversation.  Meaning, we either talk about what color curtains to hang in our houses or we peel back the veneer and talk heart talk.  And that's definitely what our weekend was...lots and lots and lots of heart talk.  I certainly feel so loved, cared for, and rejuvenated!

God certainly knew what He was doing when He surrounded me with these wonderful women.  He cares for me better than I could ever imagine and I am so incredibly thankful for these ladies.  They enrich my life, my walk with the Lord, my understanding of His will for my life, my parenting, my marriage, and I know so much more.  Thank you friends for loving me so well!  For the official birthday dinner night my sweet friends spent time each sharing beautifully encouraging things to me which I will be storing up in my heart and also a tip for my 30's.  Each one was encouraging & those I will share.

1. Cease striving & know God.
2. Continue to walk in wisdom and God's Word.
3. Drink coffee!
4. Enjoy each moment.
5. Heal from past wounds, forgive, and let go of bitterness.
6. Be confident and content.

Good advice for me for sure.  Thanks, friends!

embrace the camera: beachin' it take 1

Picture this: Me, my 3 kids, Jenny Beth, her 4 kids, and 4 graduated 18 year olds.  Oh wait, here ya go...

Massive beach picture overload soon to come...get excited.  Lots of kiddos in the sand, pool, looking cute & tired.  

linking up with emily, enjoy her cute family...i always do :)

a post for my friend

Ginny-

We had a blast with your sweet kiddos yesterday. Everyday is one day closer! Soon ya'll will be playing and singing and reading and laughing and all the other wonderful things you guys love. God's Sovereign plan covers each of you-big yeas for that! Love and miss you and can't wait to see your three wonderful faces.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

thanks abounding and a fun tradition

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!" Psalm 126:3

November is drawing to a close, and I'd hope to have had more thankfulness-ing going on in my bloggyland but...anywho. We have this fun little tradition over Thanksgiving and I am very very thankful for it!

Nine years ago (pre-marriage), we began what has become one of my favorite traditions. We celebrate Thanksgiving with our besties on the Wednesday before. We absolutely l.o.v.e this time together, look forward to it for weeks, plan our menu very specifically and deliciously, and enjoy every moment. Each year we write down things we are thankful for, things we hope for in the next year, and favorite memories from the year. Then we seal them up and save them to read and enjoy the next year. We also write letters to each other and get the joy of reading those each year, too. It is truly truly one of my favorite times of the year! Since adding little babes to our lives we have turned our little one day party into quite the event. One of our crews packs up and we all pile into the others house for as long as we can all make possible. This year we stayed at our house and the Schwo's came over on Tuesday and we stayed all together until Saturday. We eat a lot, play games, talk, laugh, take long walks, and anything else wonderful we can squish in. Our kiddos love each other and play great together. It is so fun to watch them interact and we spent one night going around with them sharing things they are thankful for. It was a sweet time to share together.

I am so very thankful for our great friends...our history together, our fun and funny memories, the ability to cry, pray, and rejoice together...the blessing they are to our family is immeasurable.

I wish I could share a lovely pic of the four of us, or 9 of us, but that would require using our camera with the timer and having all people awake and cheery at the same time. :)

weddings, friends, discipling, & Texas

For the past few years I've had the privilege of discipling several college gals. We've read through many books of the Bible, several books, and done lots of talking and praying. I have truly loved it! Two gals graduated last May, one got married, both moved away. And now this past May the final two graduated and both had June Texas weddings! Andrew & I had a great time traveling down to Texas (twice) with our sweet friends Shawn & Anita. The quality talk time was amazing! With five kiddos and multiple house guests between our two families time together is precious! And then to add to that it was such a joy watching these gals & their now husbands get married. They all four amazed me at how Christ-centered their lives were and how deeply and honestly they desired that be true in their dating and now their marriages. I was proud of them and it was so fun to watch. So I didn't actually take pictures of them (kind of annoying carrying a big camera in the Texas heat in heels and a strapless dress) but we did get a few shots of the Brills/Schwartzmans which was fun and doesn't happen often!

my husband is such a goof