As always ~ God is faithful

At the beginning of May I found out a friendly Costco worker we love to see was going to be out for some time with a workman's comp. hand surgery.  We said we would of course pray, and also would be happy to bring a meal or otherwise help out... so we exchanged phone numbers.
Later that same evening, I had the paper with the number, and another paper that looked similar in hand, planning to shred the second.  If only I would live by the "measure twice, cut once" adage and check twice before doing something that cannot be undone!  I shredded the page with her number!
I now had no way to follow up with her!  She would not be at work, and though I do know her name, it is her first name only.  We searched through the shredded pages for 45 minutes! to no avail.

I tried everything in my power that came to mind. 
I called and asked if they could get her a message.  No. >quite rudely too<
I asked other friends there if they knew how I could get in touch with her.  Unfortunately, no.  But they were nicer than the person on the phone.

After agonizing over not being able to give tangible help, I went to the Lord in prayer.  I gave Him my felt need to assist, my frustration over not finding a way to contact her, and asked Him to bring it about if it was His will.

Right before the next time I was headed there, the thought of a card came to mind.  I made a card with a picture of the kids and the whole story inside, along with my number.  I filled in the envelope with the return address and stamp, with her first name on it.  I decided, come hail or high water, I was going to ask everyone there if need be... maybe they could send it to her for me!

I asked a worker friend when we first got there, who I should ask to help for this project of mine.  Then following her advice, asked the supervisor there.
She said yes!  They could help! :)
I was so full of joy that it was finally working out!

The *very* next day I got a call from that friend!  She happened to go into the store the evening before and was given the card.  It turns out that in the course of working the rest of her shift after we exchanged numbers, she had also lost my information.  She kept saying how it blessed her to get that card and how great the picture was, and how thankful she was for us. 

In the end, the blessing that came about was bigger than the blessing that was missed. :)

Mother's Day

I've been considering quite a bit whether or not to share our Mother's Day gift plans...
Wondering why I feel compelled to share it anyway~

for my glory 

      or for His?

I do hope it is for His, though I am desperately prideful and know that my "Words of Affirmation" love language sometimes gets the better of my sensible side and I "phish for compliments." 

-Which generally brings up the "old boot" ;)

For the GrandMammas this year we chose to do some color by number and paint by number projects and frame them.  We all got a chance to work on them some, though the littler ones got less of a chance! ;)  I think they both turned out well.

But for myself, I still really feel, that while presents are nice and not in themselves bad, I don't want more stuff while someone else goes without a real need. 

We chose to do a hands on ministry gift, so my kids would still have the chance to get some*thing* they could relate with while serving another woman somewhere else.  Voice of the Martyrs has Action Packs that you can fill and send back to be distributed to those in need of the items you got.  We chose items that are great for women, and would be a special gift.  It was sort of a replacement gift, so I wanted the kids to feel they could get some nicer stuff they would want to get me. :)

They have enjoyed their projects, and we are putting the finishing touches on the pack before we ship it back to VOM.  

Maybe you also don't need another thing to not dust or whatever?  This could be the gift that changes someone else's eternity... now that's an investment I'd like to make! :)

But will it hurt.... much?

How many times I've prayed to see through God's eyes, and be His Hands and Feet...
I've noticed that I don't mind the hands or feet part cause it keeps me busy, but this business of seeing~

 and more to the point feeling

*sigh*

Sometimes I wish I didn't.

It can hurt... much... to feel.

I grieve the loss of a man I've never met, but whose words I've read and been refreshed by often.  He is accused of something detestable, and chose in desperation to end his own life.  This sure makes the accusation look formidable... why would he take such measures if it wasn't?  But I have no intention of believing it until I have to... innocent until proven guilty, right? or because it would tarnish the life of a man I respected?
Still suicide cuts deep into a wound I never expected would feel so fresh after so long.
 It hurts. much.

Tony would have had a birthday this month.  His 34th I believe.  It's hard to believe that it will be 6 years in October, but my mile-marker Pumpkin never lets me forget the passage of time.  She was one month old exactly.  How I have wished that didn't correlate!  How I really should be more thankful we had her to keep us moving forward through our grief ~because we had no other choice!

I am praying for the families involved, and shedding tears.  I have to remember that this pain I have (which is so incomparable to the family's) is a blessing to remind me to lift them up.

 

Processing

I've been slowly reading Radical, and have heard many convicting accounts of the Ameri-Christian need to be more out-reaching from several sources.  After all the Great Commission does say Go.

I am wondering through all of this though about why we focus on Go and do nothing where we Stay?

If we are to think globally, wouldn't it be good to start by impacting those nearest us?  Does not God place us in such a place as this as well as "at such a time?" 
I am all for thinking less like a spoiled, materialist... and I am trying, to the chagrin of my inner American.  However, I think we are really missing the intent to reach all peoples if we don't look to those who are already in our own circles, neighborhoods and families!

And what impact would we have being a missionary to a foreign country if we lived our lives there the way we do here?  Jesus asked what more people were doing in their own lives than those without faith. (Matt. 5:46)

This is all so convicting to me.  Here in my comfy computer chair, in a nice rural home, with all of the creature comforts.  We pat ourselves on the back for not living above our means -like so many others- and enjoy so many of the blessings of modern convenience.  And it makes me sick to think of the people who could live on the money wasted in my own home. 

As the title suggests, I'm really just hashing out the reality of my own life, and the greater reality of the life God is calling me to...
It leaves me wondering if my little brood of disciples are all He has for me, or if I am wasting the "talents" in only doing as much as so many others... taking care of my family.  I don't think I can just throw more money at it and call it good.  God didn't say "send your check book," but "Go."  Yet in the early church we see that some went, and some financed with prayer and money.  Not all were asked to go, but to stay and impact their own corner of the globe.

Lord, You show me what You would have me do.  Help me to focus on Your Will and Heart, and Your approval, not mans.
~Amen~

A Tour of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

For our studies of Ancient World History, the kids each chose something to research and report on to the others.  One chose to map out the conquests of Alexander the Great, report his findings to his sisters and help them to complete maps of their own.  Another chose to discuss the celebrations of Purim and Chanukah; made a dreidel and taught the game; and made the Hamentashen for everyone to eat while the Ester story was read.
I decided to photo document the last one though.

The official tour of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World!

We began our tour at the Statue of Zeus. 

 

 

The happy travelers 

with their bags of "provisions" for the long journey, 

and our tour guide {who has the clip board. ;) }

 

 This is what happens when you tease about "Buzz Lightyear" being Zeus. ;)

 

Then it was on to the Temple of Artemis,

  

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus,

  

and the Colossus of Rhodes.

  

 The tourists enjoyed the view of the Wonders, 

but it must be noted that all of them have to be viewed from a distance, 

therefore their size appears small. ;)

 

~A rare shot of the builders of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!~

 The tourists were not as happy to visit Babylon in the heat! 

And due to a plague of little black bugs, a hasty retreat was made!

The next stops were to 

The Great Pyramid at Giza

And the Pharos of Alexandria

 Which concluded our tour!

 We hope you enjoyed the journey! ;)