Sometimes.....

.... you just need a break.

I'm not really sure what triggered my blog break, but I think it was much needed. I love to write and "scrapbook" of sorts, but this is a busy season of our life. And is something has to fall by the wayside, better the blog than the kids, no? The housework has fallen by the wayside a bit too along with other things that I'm trying to put on track, but God has been good. I am learning and have learned and, by grace alone, will continue to learn as He models His love for me in this amazing thing called a "family".

We are more settled here than we were a month ago. We have people, and that's a good thing. We haven't made any heart friends, as you may call them, but we have people. People that we can call and people that care and give us a sense of belonging to the Body here.

This week, I got in the van, the swagger wagon, with the kids, cranked it up and it was bad. Noises and rattles and a really bad smell. After a trip to the shop we were told that the engine needed to be replaced... the engine... the whole flippin engine. Really? After the initial shock of that news, we came to the conclusion that it's God's money, not ours. If He wants to buy an engine, who are we to argue?

The next question to be answered was how I was going to get the kids back and forth to school without a car. With a family of 7, we won't fit in Ken's truck and most people don't have room to haul 3 extra kids for carpool.

How could we not have known or ever doubted that God would provide, bountifully as always. I sent an SOS email to a few other moms in the school. Within hours, people had divided up our kids and arranged rides for everyone for the rest of the week. On top of that, one mom from church referred us to a mechanic in our church whom we didn't yet know. She said he's a believer and he's an awesome mechanic. He came and got our car and fixed it. Without a new engine. And we got it back the same day.

All of these things were really minor in the big scheme of things. But they made a big impression on my heart. For the first time in a long time, we had people. God showed us His love and provision through His people. The church acted like the church and we were a Body and it was awesome... the way it's supposed to be. It was also a lesson in humility for someone (me) who likes to go at it alone most of the time. All I had to do was ask. How many blessings and provisions have I missed because I didn't ask? Because I didn't trust?

That's only one example of the things I feel that God has been teaching us lately. So thankful for His patience, as I am a very slow learner. And thankful that I can write these things down so that I don't forget. Or when I do forget, I can go back and remember.

I just remembered that I really do like blogging.

pray

My heart is heavy right now, after hearing news yesterday that some friends of ours lost their baby girl.  Full term and stillborn, she was born into Heaven.  The story isn't mine to tell, but will you pray for them?  They are a godly couple who would covet your prayers.

Since yesterday these lyrics from Lincoln Brewster have been in my head:  "Surely this isn't how it should be, Let Your Kingdom come."  Over and over, my heart is repeating this.  This isn't how it should be.  Loss and hurt and pain.  We know that His ways are higher than ours.  We know that our God can be trusted.  We trust Lord, but still we hurt.

Thanks for praying, friends.  I know these prayers are heard.

And while you're praying, my dearest friend Maria, who is expecting in November, is now on strict bedrest due to preterm labor.  Thankfully, her baby boy appears to be healthy and strong.  He has 3 brothers here waiting for him and 3 in Heaven and a Mommy and Daddy anxious to meet him.... just not too soon.  Will you pray for her and their baby, for God's protection and timing?  God holds each of these little ones in His hands.  I know He does.

Until His Kingdom comes,

Jen

can I pray this?

Okay, I've already posted today, but it's Saturday and I have free time.  Well, not exactly free time if you count the pile of laundry that needs washing or the bathroom that needs cleaning  or the mountain of dishes behind me waiting to be washed.  But I'm not counting those.  So, this is free time.  The kids are in bed, Ken is studying and I'm thinking/wondering/pondering/praying and, consequently, writing.  I digress...

In some of Ken's classes right now he is studying the process and idea of goal setting; such as, strategic goals vs. operational or tactical goals.  Given, all this he is learning is being applied militarily, but he has also raised the question of applying these principles within our home.  Hang with me here.  I'm going somewhere.  I promise.

As we were talking through our plans/goals as a family, we began to really discuss where we wanted to see 10-20 years from now with our children.  Now, only God knows tomorrow, but if He grants us that time to raise and disciple our children, what do we want to impart to them?  What convictions/truths/wisdom to want to equip them with before they leave our home?

So much around us is the status quo. Even among Christians there is a complacency and acceptance of worldliness that is simply unbelievable.  We accept sin as a necessary part of our culture and continue to pursue the "American dream".  We have bought into the lies of materialism, and though we don't see it, we are the rich man who sadly walked away from Christ because he just could not give up the things of the world.

As we are bombarded with that, how do we raise children not to love those things but to love Jesus?  To be willing to depend solely on Him even if that means walking away from everything that the world has to offer?  We must do it ourselves.  We must pray for deliverance from the things of this world and run fully to the arms of Jesus.  We must, with our children by our side, trust in Him for our daily bread.  

How is that supposed to look in our family?  I don't know yet.  Obviously, all that I am thinking through at this point is a jumbled mess.  The bottom line is that I know God wants more ... more of me, more of my family.  He wants to show me more of Himself and bless us in ways unimaginable.  I just have to trust Him.  I know that God will reveal His will to me in His time.  Right now, I just wanted to get this all out there to pray through and process. 

We watched this clip tonight and I was encouraged.  I pray that we can pray this prayer.

(turn off the music player at the bottom of the page before you play this so you can hear it.)

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What a mighty God we serve!

Thank you so much for praying for Stellan.  God has made a way where there was no way!

After fighting to live for the past few days and even flatlining on the table this morning, Stellan has come through a surgery that has healed his heart.  It is an amazing story that is only possible by God's grace.  Please read his story and continue to offer them up in prayer as he recovers.

Sharing this journey of faith with them has built my faith in amazing ways.  What a mighty God we serve.  How good He is... to let us see glimpes like this of His amazing glory!

family photos and prayers

Today we spent the afternoon here....

The kids ran and played in the sand and surf with each other and their friends.  We met some friends down at the beach to take each others' family photos.   We got some pretty good pictures and everyone had a good time.  I would post all the pictures, but some I'll be saving for our Christmas card.  So it'll just have to be a surprise.  :)

Speaking of family, there is another family who could use your prayers right now.  You may have noticed the Pray for Stellan button in the top corner of my blog.  You can click on that link to read the entire story, but tonight, Stellan is in Children's Hospital in Boston, truly fighting for his life.  He will undergo a very, very risky heart procedure in the morning in order to correct a heart problem that is right now threatening his life.  Will you pray for him and for the entire McKinney family?  They have 3 other small children who could also use your prayers, as this is a hard time for them as well.  Whatever the outcome is, we know that God has been and will be glorified.  But I do ask that you pray for them now, for healing and for comfort.  For Stellan's heart and for the doctors.  And, please pray too for the Mom who is sitting alone beside her sick baby tonight.  Sweet Jesus, be near them.