Moving on...5,500 miles on.

"Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth;
      send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness;
      send me from all that is called comfort on earth;
      send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service,
      and to promote Thy kingdom."
                                                     - David Brainerd

We have waited a few months to share what the Lord has been stirrng in us.
The necessary waiting has brought on lot's of questions from those around us,
as we appear to be selling all we own,  moving in with Erics parents and
seemingly missing at our local church.

For those of you who have been waiting and wondering, or have been concerned
about us, hopefully this blog post will clear up any confusion and answer your
questions:)

Around the spring of this year Holy Spirit began stirring our hearts about moving.
If you know me, I LOATHE moving. What a pain! So we kind of pushed the prompting
to the side -- I mean, we have lived back in Virginia for only about 2 years.
We just bought a house. Our families are here. Our kids were born here. All of our
ministries have been here. Moving didn't sound like such a great idea.

After multiple meetings with Pastor Kevin at Crossroads between January and May,
Eric and I stepped down from all leadership positions to more adequately seek the Lord
and hear Him clearly. We felt that this next decision in our lives would be a major one--
likened to the seriousness of choosing a spouse. We adjusted our lives accordingly. From
the outside looking in, it probably seemed that we dissappeared, but the time away was
necessary and fruitful.

Following a lot of seeking and heart searching -- some major cutting away of what is
comfortable and easy for us, we have heard his voice clearly and will obey.

As many of you know, we are expecting out third baby in March of 2013. Following
our new additions arrival, in late May/early June, we will be moving over 5,500 miles away
to Kailua on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. We will be a part of  LifeChurch Kailua.
(click for church website)

We have been called to be missionaries to Hawaii and to the Philipinnes. If you are like
the majority of people your response probably is, "wow...tough job. Really suffering for Jesus."
If that is your opinion or feeling, you have greatly misinterpreted the main purpose of the gospel--

                                        Go forth an make disciples of all nations --That all may know Jesus. 
                                        Whether that be to the richest or poorest of all people. Whether on a beach
                                         orin a desert.

              "I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls.
              When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts…
               no amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition of brilliant
               and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic
               love for human souls."
                           -David Brainerd

With that directive, from Jesus Himself, we are selling everything we own.
We will leave behind our families and what is comfortable for the sake of the gospel.
"Sell all you have...and follow me," has become a reality for our little family.
There have been tears and fear of the unknown, but we know at the end of the day,
His way is always good. It's always right. It's always perfect and has our best interest in mind.

We will be helping to direct an internship, helping oversee a K-12 private school,
helping with the youth in that district and connected to issions in the Phillipines.
We are so excited to see what the Lord has in store.

Eric was able to visit in September for about a week, but the rest of us probably won't get
to visit before our move next year. God has also graciously provided us with a 3 bedroom house
on the church property for an incredibly small amount, in comparison to the rental rates in Hawaii.

We will be traveling to churches each Sunday from November throug April,
sharing in a little more detail about what we will be doing and where we will be.
Please pray for as we learn to walk in a completely new level of faith -- trusting God for all
we willl need, As we are going as missionaries, none of this comes with a paycheck:)

Please call or email us if you still have questions or want more info about whats going on.
Love you all and glad to be serving King Jesus alongside of you.

Shades and magic.

I have gone back and forth over whether or not to post this.
It is an obvious controversial topic even within Christian circles.

After some praying and heart seeking, I feel like I need to share.
This is not out of judgment, but out of a desire to expose truth!

Unless you live under a rock, I am sure you have heard ALL about magic mike and shades of gray--good and bad. I was very confused though when some of my christian friends were raving over the 2 and calling anyone who spoke out against them "Judgemental".

The friends reading this book and seeing this movie are in great marriages or are single young women who are a part of the body. They are walking out loving others, serving wherever they are needed, defending 50 million babies who have bee murdered, standing up for the ending of sex trafficing and raising families. These same women are reading and praomoting this movie and book series. And yes, I am still confused over it.

I want to adress the thinking that I have heard that says, "We all sin and if you don't feel convicted of it the it doesn't matter." OR "Its just  a book." or..."Its just a movie."

If all of our christian walks were based on SOLEY our convictions (the things we "feel" are right or wrong), then wouldn't "truth" look different to all of us?
Some dont feel convicted that abortion is wrong, but the church still stands against it, and voices Jesus' opinion concerning life.
And that is only one example.

While there are things we encounter in this world thatare not directly addressed in the Word, and we have to be led by holy spirit in descerning how we are to live, related to those things (like smoking, for example).
Sexual immorality is not one of those things left unaddressed.
It is one topic that is addressed over and over and over in the new testament.

I am unsure how women are taking the scripture into account and yet justifying these books,
 that the secular reviewers have called "mommy porn".
I guess my thinking is this--the word says in eph. 5:3:
 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
Is there a "hint" of sexual immorality being portrayed in these books/movie??
 Becasue even if it is only a hint (A slight indication ,A barely perceptible amount)...then according to the word, whether i FEEL convicted or not, it is wrong.

And that is only using one verse. As christians we are supposed to live careful lives-- keeping a close watch over our lives that we dont stumble. Does that mean we dont sin? Of course not. But niether does it mean we blatently go against Gods word with the excuse that we all sin.

I hope this hasn't been offensive, but that encourages you to seek out what the word has to say concerning 50 shades and magic mike.

The devil isn't stupid. He's gonna seep into our lives any way that we allow him to.
Stand firm in truth my friends, for it is only the truth that brings true freedom.

Mini Vacation .... gone bad.

It all started with a great idea: Let's get away for a few days--
away from laundry, phone calls and work.
We really wanted some time to just seek the Lord!

We planned to go and visit our friend Molly in South Carolina from Saturday to Tuesday.
 A little lakehouse in the woods, in a tiny town. Sounds great!.
 Eric would have wednesday off for the fourth as well and could recouperate.
Unfortunately the dates couldn't work...

That plan fell through. Strike 1.

We then made plans to go stay in the mountains at a church conference and retreat center.
The mountains were calling our name.
Saturday comes.
We find out that power is out from the storms and could take a week
to be restored at the retreat center.

Great. That plan fell through. Strike 2.

So we decide to go to Lynchburg...we can see the mountains, go fishing, visit the dollar theater.
It'll be great.
We reserve our cheap hotel room and start the drive with the two littles.
We get to to hotel...the kids are dying to get out. We all have to pee. And then we see it.
A sign on the door that says NO POWER.
*Deep breath*

We pile back into the car and rethink this whole thing.
Should we go home? Look for another hotel?
We end up at Arbys with an orange creme milkshake searching for another hotel.

We find one. In Roanoke--another hour away.
We make the reservation and start going to roanoke.
Nice Howard Johnson with an awesome view of the mountains. Breakfast. Good deal.

To make a long, frustrating story short, we spent the WHOLE next day searching for a place to fish and trying to find worms.
One place had no power.
One river was full of people swimming.
And the "stocked"duck "pond"--- that was a joke.

Our A/C in our car wasn't working through all of this and
we found out our insurance won't cover our windshield that got cracked in the storm.
We came home tuesday and were glad to be back.

I feel like I need a vacation to get myself back togther. lol.
At least we got to be together.

Karis still loved it--despite all the setbacks:)
In it all, Jesus is always faithful!!
Looking forward to hearing His voice.

Giving Up On Good: My Time With Jesus

Linking up with Jessi at naptime diaries for her series Giving up on good:) She's my new-best-friend-who-doesn't-really-know-me-at-all-but-seems-like-we-could-be-great-friends. lol. Check out her blog and her etsy shop...its awesome and inspiring and just....just a true reflection of Jesus! Here's my Giving Up On Good contribution!

I really do love Jesus.
I really love sitting down with the Word and my journal and talking to Him.
I really love having my little blocked out hour(s) with Jesus.
With one child it was completely doable everyday. But I have 2 kids:)

And the truth is, I RARELY get that blocked out time anymore.

With 2 kiddos-- one who is still nursing -- that BLOCK just dosn't fit in anymore.
Hosanna--my 14 month old little beauty- takes ONE nap a day, for one hour.
In that hour, there are so MANY things to be done -- housework, etsyshop upkeep, emails, phonecalls, laundry folding, toy pickup, reading with Karis...etc.

The block doesn't work.
So I say, I'll just get up early. Everything will be quiet.
It can be just me and Jesus.
Nobody will need their bottom wiped. Noone will need lunch. Noone will be asking any questions.
Well-- it's was great idea, in theory.
And it WOULD work EXCEPT that Hosanna still sleeps with us and nurses to go to sleep and nurses several times through the night.
This littl snugglebug does not like when I get up...or she wakes up! Glorious.
Scratch that idea- at least for now.

So I have given up on my "block" with Jesus,
but what I have found in its place are some sweet moments with Jesus.

When I am washing dishes, I talk to Him.
When I'm folding laundry, I pray over the kids and my husband.
When I am cleaning the toilets I ask Jesus to come and clean me up again.
When I am changing diapers I pray over hosannas feet, that she woul walk in paths of righteousness and that she would walk with the Lord all the days of her life.
When I am making beds, I pray that He would send revival.

My relationship with Jesus is more than a block of time anyway.
Its about how I respond to Him each moment.
How Iopen my heart to Him in the mudane, everyday, normal life.

And to be honest, my best Bible reading usually happens when I'm in the bathroom...lol
I know you can relate as a mom!

It is a freeing thing to not be trapped by the idea that my time with Jesus has to look a certain way.
He just wants my whole heart. All the time.
All I want is more of Him.
All I want is to hear whats on His heart.
All I want is to be a mom that my kids can say, I know she loved Jesus because she talked to Him all the time.

Do I fail? Yes.
Do I get too wrapped up in life some days?? Oh yes.
But His grace is sufficient for me to walk out being a mommy and a lover of Jesus andan incredible wife!!

One prayer at a time. One moment at a time.
The season of the block has ended...Thank you Jesus!

To the mommies....

Hello my lovely friends....

I really am trying to keep up with this thing!

Between the kiddos, house, rental house and etsy shop, I seem to be busy. Imagine that.

This week both of the girls have had the flu. Yuck.
Have I ever mentioned that HATE the flu.
Eww. It's just gross.
Enough said.

For those who don't know- we are collecting cloth diapers to send to haiti for babies with NO DIAPERS.  I can't imagine the messy messy mess. But Jesus is faithful to provide! If you want to give money toward this, heres the link. We'll also take diapers, covers, inserts, snappi's... etc! Basically whatever Jesus puts on your heart to give. Heres the event page link on facebook with all the info!

This weekend is mothers day. Thankfully growing up I had a mom (and dad) who loved Jesus and raised my brother and I to love Him with all of our lives. She gave up nice clothes and nice cars to stay home and raise us. If you stay at home with your children, you know what a sacrifice it is, but what a return you receive on your investment. And yet, at our best, on our greatest days as moms we fall so short of the glorious standard.

I think parenting was and is Gods way of teaching us
selflessness, patience and utter dependance on Him.
I'll never have enough on my own.
I'll never give enough out of myself.
I'll never be able to fulfill the standard of Proverbs 31.

But with Him all things are possible.
Through Him my weak and feeble attempts leave a mark on my childrens life.

I am learning day by day that the greatest ministry impact I could ever have is right here in my home.
If children truely are a reward from the Lord, what an honor to have been given the two that I  have here on earth, and the one thats with Jesus.

Maybe you are raising the next Leonard Ravenhill. Mike Bickle.
Tim Tebow. Misty Edwards. Karen Wheaton. David Brainerd. Billy Graham.
Maybe you're raising a son that will change a nation.
A daughter that will prophesy and bring healing to her school.
Maybe your raising a Joseph who will impact where He works with the favor of the Lord.
Maybe your raising a daughter who will adopt children who are abandoned.

They aren't inconveient. I'm just selfish.
They aren't expensive. He provides everything we need.
They aren't too little to understand. They see and hear everything around them and take it in.
They don't take my time away from Jesus. They teach me to walk with Him each moment.

I have much to learn from them and from Jesus about them.
Thankful to be a mom and to be surrounded by women  who embrace their role as one that is great.

It's not small. You're not insignifcant. You're not invisible.
What you are doing will stand through eternity.
Heaven is cheering you on as you wipe faces,change diapers,
spank bottoms and repeat Jesus loves me.

You are making an impact.
Believe it and give your life to teach your kids chase Jesus.
It's worth it.

Covering Bottoms

I have a friend who lives in Haiti.

She helps take care of orphans. She cares for the sick.

She shares Jesus with people who have no hope.

Who have little food.

Who have few clothes.

My sister in law recently went to visit  her in Haiti. 

Since you can not mail things there, she packed a suitcase FULL of things that Krista needs there.

 I wanted to send diapers because they are 

few and are between there in Haiti.

They use strips of cloth to cover the babies .

I didn't send the diapers but since then  each time I pray for my sweet friend, I think, she needs diapers.

Holy Spirit truly knows all things.

How often does He speak that I completely miss it.

Ignore it.

Dismiss it as just me.

Yesterday I posted a new print in the shop.

I got a post from Krista in Haiti asking for one when she comes into the states in June.

I asked her if there was anything we could collect for her that she needs there--since you can't mail anything.

Diapers.

And so, I am  collecting cloth diapers. Any kind. All sizes.

If you have some you want to donate,

that would be INCREDIBLE.

If you want to donate money to purchase the plastic covers or diapers you can give through my etsy shop thats linked to paypal. There are buttons to give $10, $20 and $50.

All the money will go to diapers to cover baby bottoms in Haiti.

It will help so much to keep things sanitary and they will be REUSABLE!

If you want to help, heres the link to the facebook event page and it has all the details.

Thank you so much for your help ahead of time.

Let's show how Jesus loves the babies in Haiti.

HE EVEN PROVIDES DIAPERS!!

I Want Jesus in My Heart

Last night we made a trip out to Lowes to look at some flooring for our rental house.
Four hundred and some odd dollars and an hour later we are heading to the parking lot.

Its 9:30pm.
Hosanna is past tired and really dirty from crawling around on the floor in Lowes.
I know-- that's gross.
I NEVER let her crawl around ANY store but it was late and we were taking a long time to pick flooring...
so she got a treat. Ha. Wish I would've taken a picture.
Seriously-- Lowes needs to mop.

We get out to the car and Eric is strapping in Hosanna, who is crying, and I am putting karis in and her seatbelt on when she says a few little words I will never forget.

"Mommy, does Jesus live in my heart?"

She's 4. She's fascinated over Jesus and that He died on the cross and came back to life.

She memorized her first Bible verse last week.

If you ask her to tell you about Jesus-- you'll get the full bloody story-- nails, whips, blood and all. You'll also get a childs perspective of how great it was that He came out of the tomb!

I answered her and said, "Jesus can live in your heart if you ask Him."

She said that she  did want to ask Him.

And so in the parking lot of Lowes, in the car with a screaming baby, Karis asked Jesus to come into her heart and to wash away all her sins.

It wasn't at an "altar".
It wasn't at a church service.
There was no music, since our radio is broken.
There had been no sermon given.

Just the sweet prompting of HolySpirit whispering to her heart.
And her responding YES to that still small voice.
Her choice is an answer to our prayers over her life.
She chose Him at 4.

Lord Jesus would you raise up a generation that would choose you at 4.
Would you set their hearts on you God.

I stand amazed again at the goodness of the Father.
In awe at how He draws us to Him and just desires our heart.

Because at the end of the day. When it's all been said. When it's all been done .
And when the race is won. Our lives willl come down to love.

Karis, mommy and daddy are so so proud that you have given your life to Jesus.
May He make you more like Him everyday.