Buddy

Buddy!
I feel as if we have completely entered a new stage in life, and it’s called FRIENDS! Up until the last month or so, I’ve been number one in my toddler’s life, but that’s all changed with a new little boy moving across the way from us. Now I either can’t seem to keep my little boy home or our somewhat quiet, loud house is now extra noisy with 3 kids and a baby running in, out, and all around (well the baby isn’t quite running yet!) and the screen door banging every 30 seconds.
It’s funny to watch, and also quite a lesson in our depravity! No, you can’t hit your friend, no, you can’t kick him either, give the toy back, you can have that in a minute, let’s practice self-control hands…you get the picture!
Neither boy speaks the other’s language (our friend Amzi speaks both), but they understand each other anyway! The one word, besides, “Yeah,” they use with each other is “Buddy!” How can you help but smile to see these two little boys call out to each other, “Hi Buddy!” The other day, my rambunctious, almost 3 year old, said, “Mommy, I go share my cars with Aji, okay?” Yep! My heart was completely melted.


Buddies


Three Little Monkeys hanging in a tree!

His/Her Ministry

This week while John is roughing it, (Only 2 more days!) I’m getting to put together Powerpoints and class notes for the class he is teaching next week on 1, 2, 3 John. It’s not often that I get to work alongside John and really help with his ministry, especially with all of his recent travels. My ministry is more along the lines chasing after a little Houdini and a lightning fast , crawling, munchkin, cleaning up messes, nursing wounds (and this week there have been more than usual), and about a hundred other things so daddy can work.
So it’s an added bonus to be of use to my hubby in his ministry. My favorite part is sitting down with him and talking about what he’s teaching as we edit and look through his notes. I’ve loved sitting down at night after the kids go to bed and converting his notes into Powerpoint slides and student notes for him to present. What an amazing opportunity to be a part of God’s eternal Word being taught! I love that I get to be ministered to by my husband’s teaching and love for God’s Word, and to be working with him too! Man, I love that guy! I can’t wait to hear how the students are challenged next week in their walk and fellowship with God!

Holding Down the Fort

John’s in Palawan this week, which is another island in the Philippines. This is the second long trip of three this fall (almost 2/3 of the way done!!!) He’s working with a team running two different camps and a pastor’s conference. As he ’s becoming one with nature and making friends with the mosquitoes (they’re roughing it this week) and sharing the love of Christ, the boys and I are holding down the fort.
Thankfully five days in, we’re doing much better than the last trip! Leighton is sleeping through the night – finally! Tanner is behaving somewhat better this go around, or more likely I have much more patience this time around, because I’m pretty sure every time I turn around he’s doing something wrong! I’m amazed at how much John being gone throws them off.
For the most part, we’ve been having a blast: playing with friends, painting, swimming, singing, having some of the other ladies whose husbands are gone over, and watching movies. But there are always those little things. Tanner has asked me every day if we could go in the car and get daddy off the plane (and get some ice cream and French fries on our way. And today when he fell down, the tears just came and came along with an “I miss my daddy!” Amazingly he perked right up when daddy called during dinner and told him all about how he fell down and hurt himself! Talking to daddy was just what he needed!
Only 3more days! What can we do to welcome daddy home? Hmmmm….

Biker Girl

My husband has been wanting a motorcycle forever, well at least since he moved back to the States for college and then we got married. Well, he finally got his wish! Living out at camp in the Philippines, we needed something to help us get around, and a wonderful supporting church helped us with the funds to purchase a bike. It helps a ton in getting us around camp and quick trips to the store.
You can typically see all four of us riding through camp like this!

You should see us when we head to the pool…picture a huge Lightening MacQueen baby float and towels added to our arms and front of the bike. Don’t worry! We don’t ride off property like this or at all!

And I got to learn how to ride! Okay, so I’m not very good and I’m embarrassingly slow because the sheer power of the bike intimidates me a bit, but hey a girl’s gotta start somewhere! Of course my second time on the bike also added to my bit of apprehension!
There I was, ecstatic over my newfound ability to ride a motorcycle, feeling like I’m on top of the world and relishing John pushing the kids in the stroller while I was blissfully riding the motorcycle – a dream come true! I felt so cool! In fact, I felt so great, when I got back to our house, I decided to turn around and head back to where John and the kids were just to show off a little. This meant I had to turn the bike around again when I got to him so I could head home for the second time – a skill I am still learning and need a LOT, did I mention a LOT of space to perform. So, the inevitable happened, as I was turning around I crashed right into a flower barrel right and messed up the side our brand new bike.
I felt so bad! So bad in fact that I didn’t know what else to do but burst out laughing! I really am sorry, honey! Thanks for taking it so well!
If my own humiliation wasn’t enough, every time my son gets on the bike he announces, “Oh no Daddy, Mommy broke the bike!”
Lessons anyone?

Surrender

It’s been a long hiatus from the blog. I’ve thought so many times of things I wanted to share – we’ve certainly had more happen than I could even possibly go back and chronicle. But, I’m hoping the hiatus is over. And I want to change the name of my little blog. Yes my intention is still to learn to trust the Lord with all my heart and remove the mask we wear in front of people, but the Lord is laying a new word on my heart…this may be an early New Year’s resolution word to sum up my goals for 2012, we’ll see…
Surrender
You know that beautiful hymn, “I Surrender All.” I remember singing it at least one out of every three invitations at church as I was growing up. I’ve always loved it, yet it haunts me still. Do I surrender all?
Part of my reason for not writing is wrapped up in that little word. Sure, a LOT of other stuff has happened too, that if you receive our ministry updates, you know. We left the UK in March, were in the states 3 months, then moved to the Philippines, where we’ve been for the last 4 months and we’ll be until at least April, maybe longer. We’re still praying about that. We moved around a lot until June, and have been learning to adjust to two kids. Then we moved here, where internet access is a bit more, well complicated.
But, the other thing that kept me from sharing was the issue of surrender. We’ve had so many changes, and to be quite honest I’ve been a very reluctant recipient of those changes. I wanted to be joyful and excited to be serving in ministry, but the reality was I was tired, overwhelmed, grieved, upset, angry, and I didn’t know how I could write honestly. As much as I know about the faithfulness of God, I wasn’t really seeing God’s faithfulness, just life’s disappointments.
But, little by little, the Word refreshes and the Holy Spirit mends, prunes, and directs. I know God is faithful, because He has never stopped working in my life, even in my anger, confusion, and hurt. He is faithful because I am the most unlikely missionary, and yet He has given me this opportunity. He is faithful because He patiently pursues my heart until I say, yes. Yes Lord, I will surrender to what You have for me. Come what may. I will rejoice, fix my eyes on You, and trust Your plan.
I surrender all.

Life as a Toddler

I'm quickly learning that life with a toddler is never very predictable! And I think he may be on the floor more than he is on his feet. Sometimes that means endless hours of playing with his cars, trains, or planes. Sometimes that means flat-out tantrum style (he's a bit of a drama "king" ?). And it definitely means falling down...a LOT!

So the other day, we made it to Kid's Club and we made it 10 minutes when John brought Tanner in gushing blood from his mouth. A kid had bumped into him and he had bitten his lip, although the actual bite mark took me a full 5 mun. to find do to the copious amounts of blood. We made a trip to see the doctor to make sure everything was okay. Two questions:
- Why is it that your child will scream and cry uncontrollably until you pull into the doctor's office, then gleefully walk in and cry when you have to leave the toys. Do they not realize how bad this makes their parents look?
- Second, why is it that when you have a big trip coming up, your kids get hurt or sick? Thankfully his big lip is almost healed and we didn't have anything to do! But the irony of this situation does not go unnoticed since we were at the doctor about 10 days before our trip to England with a gushing wound (that one required stitches!)

Just to top off his already swollen, bruised lip, the next day our graceful little toddler fell down the stairs and whacked his forehead on the wall. Now he is sporting a bruise and knot on his head! Ah Boys! (I was going to get a picture, but alas the camera is already packed! You'll just have to imagine!)

And I have to share one of the sweetest moment I have enjoyed as a Mom to this point . The other morning I came downstairs to be greeted by Tanner running up to me saying "Mommy, I love you!" complete with the biggest hug! Man, I love that kid!

Every blessing

Coming into full-time ministry, I had dreams of being very involved in teaching and discipling, but as a mom one of my biggest ministries is taking care of our two little treasures so John is free to minister. It's a bit different of a picture than what I had pictured being in full-time ministry, but a necessity and truly a joy. But it often means I don't get to build relationships with many of the kids or the conversations I may begin get interrupted as I chase a rambunctious two-year old around the building or soothe a crying baby.
This past week, we helped run a mission, which is similar to Vacation Bible School, at one of local churches. We work at this church every Thursday, helping with their Kid's Club, so we do know a lot of the kids. So we got to go nightly and help! This week I was prepared - three cheers for Veggie Tales and a Baby Bjorn! I could mostly help armed with those two key items! One of my prayers for the week had been to have a chance to talk to one special little girl. She had made a comment about not wanting to hear about God the very first day that just broke my heart and I wanted so badly to share God's love with her. To be honest, I didn't really expect an answer to my prayer, I just couldn't see how I'd have the time to talk to her about the Lord and watch the kids. Oh ME of little faith!
Thursday night she was one of the kids who responded to the gospel, and I was able to share with her about the Lord. The Lord truly blessed me beyond my expectations. I got to talk to her one on one, as well as two other little girls. After that, her cousin started asking me all sorts of questions about God. I was able to talk to him about the Lord and share truth with him. My heart broke when all four told me that they have no Bibles at home.
I share this with you not to boast of myself. The opportunity presented itself easily and while I had been looking for an opportunity to talk especially to this one little girl, I really wasn't fully expecting God's answer - to my shame! But, I'm so humbled that God did allow me to share His amazing love with these kids. I'm so thankful for an opportunity to work at this mission! And I'm so blessed that He does indeed answer prayer! And I'm praising Him that those kids heard the gospel Thursday night!