I Can't Believe It's Over!

We have one day left with our daughter Ama.  She leaves us on Tuesday . . . I can't believe the year is over!



Ama isn't a blood relative, but she has has lived with us for over ten months.  She's seen us at our best and our worst!  Awhile back, when Josh asked if she was ever a baby in my tummy, I replied, "No, she is the daughter of my heart."  Both she and Amira, who lived with us last school year, are so dear to me.  I am blessed to be their American mom! 



[Ama, my fellow woman on God's mission just came into the kitchen looking for her camera. "The writing juices are flowing," she observed, as she breezed past me.  After she explained her mission and we both said a prayer, she left to continue searching in her room.  I'm really going to miss praying with her.]



There were moments this past year when Ama and I felt like giving up.  But, God didn't let us.  He faithfully gave us the strength we needed to grow through the challenges, produce fruit for His glory, and to end the year well.  He has given us the victory!



Ama will adjust quickly to her culture, but she will always be part of our family.  And I know that if I ever have the opportunity to visit Ghana (and I'm fully planning to go, if God and Tim will allow me!), I will find that I have a home and family there as well.



As we finish this two year journey of hosting exchange students, I am filled to overflowing with ...

• memories, LOTS of memories


• humble thankfulness for the lessons I've learned


• gratitude to God for His faithfulness 


• joy when I remember the consistent encouragement, love, and prayers of friends and family


• the fruit and growth God has cultivated in my life through amazing experiences


• the gift of love I've received from two beautiful young women who are now permanently part of my heart and life

After the dust settles, I will tell you more about hosting exchange students; I feel like I could write a book!  For now, please reflect with me with thanksgiving to God for all that He has done!  Ama and I pray that God will continue to work in and through us as we part ways.  Ama, my precious sister in Christ, has already enthusiastically agreed to be the Representative and Coordinator for the African Branch of Women On God's Mission! :) 

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

Father's Day Reflections

Tonight my breath caught in my throat as I noticed a bright rainbow just out my back door.  It was positively glowing!  I've never seen the violet ribbon so brilliant.  As it expanded into a double rainbow, I could hear my children ooo-ing and ahh-ing from their bedroom window, talking back and forth with their Daddy about what a rainbow means.  Hearkening back to our father in the faith Noah, God our Father keeps His promises, of course.

This spring my Dad designed a little

house for his grandsons.

Tim and our boys enjoyed helping out!



This Father's Day weekend I am eternally grateful to God for a Dad who loves Him and loves his family.  Some of my favorite memories with my Dad include: when we went camping, going to church, walking the mall and him stopping occasionally to buy me a rope of licorice, bike riding, eating mulberries, him teaching me how to drive a tractor on the farm, horseback riding, chuckwagons in Colorado, and the countless times he listened to me practice the piano, clapping after every song! 



And now I am blessed to be married to a man who is a good husband and a great father.  I am unspeakably thankful that my husband is someone I can respect and trust with my children.  He loves playing with them, listening to them, chasing and tickling, singing with them . . . my cup overflows.

I love this old picture of Tim

and the boys!



Maybe you feel that while others enjoy rainbow memories and relationships, yours have been or are stormy.  Perhaps your dad wasn't the loving kind.  Instead he wounded you and wrecked your childhood.  What pain and agony!  Perhaps you are single and longing for someone to build a family with, but God hasn't brought him along, yet.  I remember the ache.  Or, you may have seen your prince charming fall off his horse and land in the kingdom of another princess.  There is no one to love you or the children you had together, and your weary heart is broken.



While human beings fall short in sympathy, God understands what we think and feel.  When His children are hurting, He hurts, too.  And He is closer to us than breathing. Just like the rainbow I saw tonight which followed scary lightening and ominous clouds,  God will help us through the storms of life - He is the safe place of eternal love and forever rainbows.



The following verses are familiar to many of us, but let's take a few moments to soak in them once again.  Just like sinking our toes into a plush carpet, munching on a warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookie, coming home and smelling freshly baked bread . . . let's come home to our Father and bask in His love today.

Our Perfect Father 

"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:11-14



"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6



"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8



"... your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8b



"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:7-8,11



"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." Luke 6:36



"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 



"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4



"I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:18



"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ ..." Ephesians 1:3



"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!"  I John 3:1



"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world." I John 4:14

God Appointments Are the Best Kind

This picture was taken a couple weeks after we met, when Melody invited us to her daughter's first birthday party.  What fun!  We are so thankful God led us to meet that day at the park.

"Who is to say that God cannot work at the grocery store, the mall, and the park?  And who can imagine that God would not lead His children to usual places to encourage or to be encouraged in His name?  His mission field is everywhere." - S.S. 

We are extremely blessed to live near Amish country.  Every few months we pack a lunch, load up the van, and head over to enjoy the countryside and culinary treasures.



The shops, complete with horse and buggy parking spots, gas lit aisles, and helpful women with German accents who are dressed in a rainbow of colors - all made from the same pattern, never cease to delight us.  While we hold a different view of God and the Bible from most Amish people, we respect these quiet folks who keep their convictions and traditions alive.



It is a pleasure to acquire healthy food at an affordable cost for my family, as well as less healthy treats like sorghum frosted cookies and pecan sticky rolls. But, today we found an even sweeter treat I'd like to tell you about.



Our household hasn't seen an oat grain for a couple of weeks.  And we all greatly miss our comforting breakfast food.  Before leaving for work this morning, Tim removed every speck of doubt from my mind, strongly encouraging me to venture back to Amish country to replenish our supply. 



I began to question the plan, however, as I talked to God through several interruptions which clogged my way. A friend whom I felt was meant to go along wasn't responding to my messages, no one could find the checkbook, and we were getting a late start.  All in all I felt like I was groping in the dark.  But, we had a mission to accomplish (to retrieve oatmeal, and much more).  At last we were on our way, checkbookless, which means I didn't have enough cash to get everything on our list as well as items requested by two of our neighbors.  Sigh.  I despise being unprepared.  Amish stores don't take credit cards!



The oatmeal store was super busy, so we toodled down to the scratch and dent store (where fancy items nearing expiration sell for one fourth their regular price).  We found some unique items and healthy canned goods, stocked up on condiments for our upcoming BBQ, grabbed a handful of ooo-la-la nutrition-deficient snacks, and dropped our jaws as usual when the checker announced the low price. 



Still, there would not be enough cash for the other store.  So I headed a few miles into town to hopefully get cash back at the General Store.  Nope - they sent me across the street to the bank.  Finally, after a quick meeting with an ATM machine, we had the needed funds. 



Lunch time already?  We walked about seventy-five steps to the locally popular bakery/deli for a quick bite.  As it came into view, warm memories made my heart smile.  One year ago we had met my sister there for a farewell luncheon before Amira, our Filipina exchange student/daughter/sister, returned to her home in the Philippines.  That day everything had been just right.  But, today the prices seemed higher, and it felt stuffy inside.  It just wasn't right, so I turned around and headed back to the van.  We swung by Subway to pick up a sandwich and made our way over to the park.  Little did we know that God was directing us to our next appointment.



When we got there, another mom and her two boys were playing, while a cute red cheeked, curly headed baby gurgled joyfully near the sandbox.  Soon the four boys were having fun and the friendly lady and I began to talk.



In a nutshell, we found out that we are both Christians, and she and her husband have been looking for a good church.  She was so happy to hear about our church, just a few miles from their home, and wanted to know more. 



We also found out our shared interest in nutrition, which led to fun topics about food, cooking, and organic farms.  She was on her way to pick up their weekly supply of milk, eggs, butter, and grass-fed beef.  Before we knew it, we were following our new friends five miles down the road to meet a sweet farmer's wife woman named Clara.  Six of her adorable boys met us by the barn.  After buying some yummy food, my boys and I got to meet some goats, pigs, kittens, dogs, cows, and a horse that was born just this morning.  Priceless!



Before leaving I bubbled out to my two new friends, "God is good!"  And they both gave me a knowing smile.  God not only gave me two new friends and a chance to encourage them today - He also lifted my heart through these women, gave me a mission to share my church with a searching family, showed me that He can work through my jumbled up plans, gave my boys a wonderful farm experience, and directed me to a healthy food resource.  I returned home feeling so blessed!



God appointments are the best kind.  I've learned that praying before and during shopping trips isn't silly - it can lead to unexpected missions of God's leading.  And what a comfort to know that He can make good things happen despite a misplaced checkbook, a slow start, lack of planning, and diverted lunch plans.  Let's not look at "running errands" as simply mundane.  God has big plans for us and for the people we are going to meet. 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

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