Normally I write my blog entries when I can't sleep in the middle of the night. Today however I'm at my in-laws doing a couple loads of laundry before this hurricane hits and the chaos starts. I am not looking forward to this hurricane. I never thought I would go through an earthquake and a hurricane in the same week. We were at a crab feast last night and everyone was getting calls from our power companies with automated messages to expect power outages for at least 24 hours starting Saturday evening and into Sunday afternoon. I can take rain and I can take earthquakes, but I fear wind. I've always hated wind. It's something that makes me sick to think about it. Growing up in southern California Santa Ana winds are inevitable, but I was never able to sleep through it especially when it whistled around the windows. So there is a lot of anxiety and I may be crying with my kids tonight if they can't sleep either. I actually told Rob last night : "When this thing hits I need you to man up and be my protector. You've been through this, I haven't and I'm scared. You know my fear of wind." He seemed understanding.
All this talk of wind and rain and Rob brings back a memory. 10 years and about 3 weeks ago or so. I was on a mission trip to Kenya. I was almost 16 and had vowed to God that I wouldn't date anymore. That I would have a courtship with the man he wanted me to marry and that I would only look within the church for someone to spend my life with. I would focus on school and start working on myself and wait a couple more years before I start looking at boys again and I would wait until I was spiritually ready to look for a mate. Basically I vowed to not casually date and I asked for God to bring him into my life when He thought I was ready. Little did I know when I had made that vow that God had placed him right in front of me.
I felt close to Rob like a brother just like all the other brothers on the trip. A couple weeks before we were to leave I started feeling things that I didn't like because I had told God I would wait on Him. I kept thinking things like "he's going to make a good husband for some one" or " I hope the man I marry is going to be that good with kids". I felt like I was being plagued because the feelings only grew and so I did the only thing I knew and I prayed. I asked God to take away these feelings. I wrote Rob a letter and told him my heart and to pray as well. He wrote me back and told me that he was feeling the same way and even told me he wandered what it would be like to kiss me. He said he would pray as well. We got in trouble for "pairing off" aka spending too much time together even in a group. A couple days after the letter and not talking to each other we had a bad storm. Thunder, lighting, rain,and Wind. We were getting ready to leave in a few days and they told us that we could sleep in tents slumber party style if we wanted to spend extra time with friends we made. I found myself alone in a tent by myself, I figured it would be nice to have some time to think. I had no idea the storm would be so bad, my tent started falling apart due to the wind and it was caving in around me.I remember the tent bending in a way that the ceiling almost touched my face. I remember going through who all was in the tents and thinking "there is no room for me... all the girl tents are full". Right before my tent callapsed I jumped out and took off running and ran into the first boys tent I saw.
Robert's! He shared the tent with Tyson, another young man I had viewed as a brother. I scared the heebeegeebee's out of both of them because I dived in and landed right between them. I was soaking wet and sobbing from fear. Rob stroked my drenched hair until the sobbing slowed and he leaned forward and whispered "who are you?" I laugh now when I think back. I was faced down with my face burried in a pile of someone's laundry and it was sooo dark. I said "it's me". When lightning flashed he saw who it was and pulled me into his arms. After I stopped crying completely he climbed out of his sleeping bag and told me to climb in and gave me his sweatshirt. I told him my tent had collapsed and how much I hated wind. After Tyson fell back to sleep we stayed up and talked into the wee ours of the morning. Before I drifted off to sleep he leaned forward and whispered in my ear " I have never told any girl this before but.......... I think I'm in love with you." I answered him with an "I know I love you".
He told me later that he had set his alarm to wake me up before a leader found me in a boys tent. He couldn't go to sleep however and sat in his tent and watched me sleep. As I left that morning he kissed me lightly and said "I love you" I said "I love you". Than from no where Tyson says "I love you too Meggan". I tried so hard not to laugh, I was afraid I'd wake the leaders. The leader found me standing in front of my tent just a few moments later. He said he'd get the boys to put it back up, but never asked me any questions.
It's crazy to think that 10 years ago we started our lives together with a storm and we have been facing storms of other kinds ever since. With God as our Rock, 10 years later with 4 kids and 4 fish we'll be facing another storm that will drive me into his arms again. This time knowing that his arms will be around me "till death due us part" and with no hesitation whatsoever, and only with 10 times more love than those first "I love yous".
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down!
Such an awesome song!!! I also think that this is a good topic title for my blog tonight. We have had a very emotional week. We have been camping all week at deep creek lake and WOW! what a week.
We had plenty of booboos! The greatest tumble was Ahna who went to far up on a hill with her scooter and as a result had a huge road burn at the underside of her thigh. We start the week on her birthday and what a birthday. When tubing, she tried with Daddy and she only lasted a couple minutes. When daddy started bragging about how she tried and pulled her in his lap and told her how proud of her he was..... a memory mommy will never forget.
Jack caught 4 fish and was braver than all the kids and went tubing on the lake by himself. What? my Jack? the one that wouldn't leave the step at the swimming pool last year.
Robby made friends with neighboring kids and discovered the joy of a jumbo marshmallow s'more. He too went out on the tube by himself a little more hesitant than Jack, but when doing it with his Dad found it was much more fun.
Jason was annoying running out to the road all the time. We had to deal with it because he only wanted to follow everyone who left the campsite including brothers and sister and other kids going up and down the street on scooters, bikes, and skate boards. It was awesome to watch him run to his aunt Rebekah after she took a shower like she was gone for a year. When he lifted his arms to an uncle who self proclaims that he's never having kids, was an awesome thing to watch.
We said goodbye to our niece Alexandra who went off to college in West Virginia after camping with us for a few days.
Robert's brother said one of the most awesome times he's had in a while was when Uncle David, Robert, and Patrick went fishing ... just them.
I had time to do a lot of reflection and I dealt with a lot of emotions selfishness, jealously, anger, sadness, loneliness, confusion, shock, happiness, joy, love, belonging, fun, laughter and many more. Every family has issues and this family showed them but it's what you do with them that shows understanding and love. This family I can safely say Loves to Much! Maybe that's why I love them so much.
It's been 8 years since I handed Robert a tissue after I walked toward him ready to be his wife. The last 4 years have been the hardest on our marriage but the most victorious. I have watched my husband almost die of something unknown until the last second luckily before it was too late. We had a lot of problems in our marriage 2 years ago. When the road gets rough you can't just get off at the next exit you have to make it a choice to fight for your marriage. My dad did and so did I. We chose to fight for love and we beat the odds in a marriages.
Now our marriage is growing and not by our hands but by God's. I love you Robert Edward Moore Jr. I love you more now than the day you became my husband!!! I am loving growing up and growing old with you. You are an amazing wonderful father and you are my other half and I would die without you and for you!!! Thank you for picking me.
Lord thank you for carrying us these last 4 years and I pray that you will hold us for at least another 40 years!
We had plenty of booboos! The greatest tumble was Ahna who went to far up on a hill with her scooter and as a result had a huge road burn at the underside of her thigh. We start the week on her birthday and what a birthday. When tubing, she tried with Daddy and she only lasted a couple minutes. When daddy started bragging about how she tried and pulled her in his lap and told her how proud of her he was..... a memory mommy will never forget.
Jack caught 4 fish and was braver than all the kids and went tubing on the lake by himself. What? my Jack? the one that wouldn't leave the step at the swimming pool last year.
Robby made friends with neighboring kids and discovered the joy of a jumbo marshmallow s'more. He too went out on the tube by himself a little more hesitant than Jack, but when doing it with his Dad found it was much more fun.
Jason was annoying running out to the road all the time. We had to deal with it because he only wanted to follow everyone who left the campsite including brothers and sister and other kids going up and down the street on scooters, bikes, and skate boards. It was awesome to watch him run to his aunt Rebekah after she took a shower like she was gone for a year. When he lifted his arms to an uncle who self proclaims that he's never having kids, was an awesome thing to watch.
We said goodbye to our niece Alexandra who went off to college in West Virginia after camping with us for a few days.
Robert's brother said one of the most awesome times he's had in a while was when Uncle David, Robert, and Patrick went fishing ... just them.
I had time to do a lot of reflection and I dealt with a lot of emotions selfishness, jealously, anger, sadness, loneliness, confusion, shock, happiness, joy, love, belonging, fun, laughter and many more. Every family has issues and this family showed them but it's what you do with them that shows understanding and love. This family I can safely say Loves to Much! Maybe that's why I love them so much.
It's been 8 years since I handed Robert a tissue after I walked toward him ready to be his wife. The last 4 years have been the hardest on our marriage but the most victorious. I have watched my husband almost die of something unknown until the last second luckily before it was too late. We had a lot of problems in our marriage 2 years ago. When the road gets rough you can't just get off at the next exit you have to make it a choice to fight for your marriage. My dad did and so did I. We chose to fight for love and we beat the odds in a marriages.
Now our marriage is growing and not by our hands but by God's. I love you Robert Edward Moore Jr. I love you more now than the day you became my husband!!! I am loving growing up and growing old with you. You are an amazing wonderful father and you are my other half and I would die without you and for you!!! Thank you for picking me.
Lord thank you for carrying us these last 4 years and I pray that you will hold us for at least another 40 years!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Happy Birthday to you!
I can't sleep tonight. I'm too restless. So many thoughts and I didn't know what to do with them. I guess I'm doing this to help my wondering thoughts calm a bit. I have been truly challenged by my women's Sunday school class that many times I bolt for the door hoping that I can get the tears to withhold themselves before the other women notice. Why is God convicting me so much? When we moved back here to MD I told myself that we needed to move so that we could better prepare ourselves for the ministry. I didn't realize He would start Preparing us the week we got here. Every week I walk in and He's got another message to challenge me with. A servant's heart is what I have been given and sometimes I don't want it. Other times I ask myself why I have to go through these tough times why can't I just leave now?He called Rob and I to the mission field as teens and I feel so close I can taste it. You know it's a Calling when that's all you think about. I wake up in the morning and it's there, I go to bed and it's there. In my prayers it's there, in my devotions it's there. It's one of those things where you want to go away or it needs to happen tomorrow. I don't think this will end (the nagging of the Holy Spirit) until we are on a plane to wherever our ministry is suppose to be. In the mean time I'm trying really hard to use this servant's heart here and now even though my heart is somewhere else.
The other thing that is keeping me awake is my Jack. I have been 26 for about an hour here on the east coast and I was looking back on this day 6 years ago, when I felt the Holy spirit for the first time. Jack was born on August 5th when he was due September 1st. He was 4 weeks early and because of how sick I was, the medications they had me on, and how weak his lungs were he was born with pneumonia. On my birthday the 8th I was going to go home without my baby. I was eager to see him that morning because they had told me the night before they were going to try to take him off the ventilator. So I hurried down the hall to the NICU and what I found I have never been able to describe with words. The nurse looked at me like a deer in head lights, after a moment she rushed over and softly said "he took a turn for the worse around 3 am. It's been a battle to get him stabilized, but he is now and he still has a chance to pull through this." I stood over my baby who was vibrating extremely fast with even more tubes than he had the day before. I don't think I actually knew how I felt, I guess I was numb. I tried to touch his foot but I couldn't and I turned and walked back to my room. I sat on the edge of my bed not knowing what to feel, just staring at the wall. My nurse came in and sat next to me and asked if I was ok. All I said was "he's worse... my baby is worse". She wrapped her arms around me and held me as I sobbed. After a few minutes I felt calmer and I realized she was praying for me and my little Jack. Her arms were no longer her arms but those of God's. Almost a quiet assurance that if I gave Him Jack he would be in good hands and He would hold Jack as I was being held. What were the nurses words? Till this day I have no clue but does it matter?
After we got home we got a phone call from the NICU saying that they were transferring Jack to Children's Hospital of LA. They told us that he wasn't getting any worse yet but if he did get worse they didn't have the technology to treat him so they wanted him in a place where they would be ready just in case. That and they rather transfer him while he was stable. That day was along day and my dad drove down to Children's to be with us while they got Jack settled. He never went back to visit it was to hard. He was on a high frequency ventilator which pumps air into the baby's lungs 900 times a minute to dry them out, getting rid of the pneumonia while also strengthening the little lungs. He seemed the same to me everyday when I visited. There were the ups and downs according to his nurse, until the 6th day. The nurse came to me excited as soon as I got off the elevator and told me Jack was starting to breathe over the machine. When I scrubbed in and got all the gear on, I went to see what he was talking about. Sure enough there he was being vibrated by this machine the size of a 5 drawer upright dresser and my little guy's lungs are puffing away over the top of the vibration. It sure was a site. The nurse said,"his breathing is still irregular so the doc wants him on it for a little while longer but he should be on a regular vent within the next 24 hours". The next day as I came off the elevator I saw that huge machine being rolled down the hall. I ran to the window to make sure it was Jacks machine and it was. The nurse gave me a thumbs up. I never washed my hands so fast ever. I scrubbed so hard they were red, I was so excited. When I went in to see him the nurse told me it usually only takes about 48 hrs at this point to get them off a vent altogether and that they were going to be transferring him back to the hospital where he was born. The next morning Rob and I went to the hospital where he was born to visit him and when we walked in the nurse escorted us right back out and said " He's doing great they are taking out his vent tube right now" She asked us to wait in the hall and she came out and got us. When we saw him for the first time and all he had was a nasal canula it felt so good. "Can I hold him?" I said as I looked at the nurse. "Of course haven't you held him?" I shook my head no. Rob told her I had barely got a glance before they wisked him away. 10 days....It took me 10 days to be able to hold my baby.
There were more ups and downs the week that followed. Rob and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary, watching cpr tapes, going through the carseat test, nursing Jack for the first time, and then taking our 16 day old baby home for the first time. People asked me how I was staying so strong through all of it. You know those arms I felt when the nurse held me? They never let me go. Sometimes when I look at Jack and remember that birthday... I feel those arms again.
The other thing that is keeping me awake is my Jack. I have been 26 for about an hour here on the east coast and I was looking back on this day 6 years ago, when I felt the Holy spirit for the first time. Jack was born on August 5th when he was due September 1st. He was 4 weeks early and because of how sick I was, the medications they had me on, and how weak his lungs were he was born with pneumonia. On my birthday the 8th I was going to go home without my baby. I was eager to see him that morning because they had told me the night before they were going to try to take him off the ventilator. So I hurried down the hall to the NICU and what I found I have never been able to describe with words. The nurse looked at me like a deer in head lights, after a moment she rushed over and softly said "he took a turn for the worse around 3 am. It's been a battle to get him stabilized, but he is now and he still has a chance to pull through this." I stood over my baby who was vibrating extremely fast with even more tubes than he had the day before. I don't think I actually knew how I felt, I guess I was numb. I tried to touch his foot but I couldn't and I turned and walked back to my room. I sat on the edge of my bed not knowing what to feel, just staring at the wall. My nurse came in and sat next to me and asked if I was ok. All I said was "he's worse... my baby is worse". She wrapped her arms around me and held me as I sobbed. After a few minutes I felt calmer and I realized she was praying for me and my little Jack. Her arms were no longer her arms but those of God's. Almost a quiet assurance that if I gave Him Jack he would be in good hands and He would hold Jack as I was being held. What were the nurses words? Till this day I have no clue but does it matter?
After we got home we got a phone call from the NICU saying that they were transferring Jack to Children's Hospital of LA. They told us that he wasn't getting any worse yet but if he did get worse they didn't have the technology to treat him so they wanted him in a place where they would be ready just in case. That and they rather transfer him while he was stable. That day was along day and my dad drove down to Children's to be with us while they got Jack settled. He never went back to visit it was to hard. He was on a high frequency ventilator which pumps air into the baby's lungs 900 times a minute to dry them out, getting rid of the pneumonia while also strengthening the little lungs. He seemed the same to me everyday when I visited. There were the ups and downs according to his nurse, until the 6th day. The nurse came to me excited as soon as I got off the elevator and told me Jack was starting to breathe over the machine. When I scrubbed in and got all the gear on, I went to see what he was talking about. Sure enough there he was being vibrated by this machine the size of a 5 drawer upright dresser and my little guy's lungs are puffing away over the top of the vibration. It sure was a site. The nurse said,"his breathing is still irregular so the doc wants him on it for a little while longer but he should be on a regular vent within the next 24 hours". The next day as I came off the elevator I saw that huge machine being rolled down the hall. I ran to the window to make sure it was Jacks machine and it was. The nurse gave me a thumbs up. I never washed my hands so fast ever. I scrubbed so hard they were red, I was so excited. When I went in to see him the nurse told me it usually only takes about 48 hrs at this point to get them off a vent altogether and that they were going to be transferring him back to the hospital where he was born. The next morning Rob and I went to the hospital where he was born to visit him and when we walked in the nurse escorted us right back out and said " He's doing great they are taking out his vent tube right now" She asked us to wait in the hall and she came out and got us. When we saw him for the first time and all he had was a nasal canula it felt so good. "Can I hold him?" I said as I looked at the nurse. "Of course haven't you held him?" I shook my head no. Rob told her I had barely got a glance before they wisked him away. 10 days....It took me 10 days to be able to hold my baby.
There were more ups and downs the week that followed. Rob and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary, watching cpr tapes, going through the carseat test, nursing Jack for the first time, and then taking our 16 day old baby home for the first time. People asked me how I was staying so strong through all of it. You know those arms I felt when the nurse held me? They never let me go. Sometimes when I look at Jack and remember that birthday... I feel those arms again.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
There Are No Orphans!
Wow! What a week and it's not over yet! When we first moved here the first thing I noticed was how many children lived in this neighborhood. Our neighborhood is not really that loud and in fact there are times where it's super quiet. But the children is what I have noticed most of all. There are so many I thought it would be easy to get a few to go to VBS with us and if I had to I would borrow the church van or have a couple different cars pick us up.
So I talked to my kids and I told them that I wanted to show them how to be missionaries where we are. We have talked to them about the possablity of going as full time missionaries in the future. I wanted to show them that I am not afraid to be bold and practice what I preach. So we decided that we would pass out fliers to kids as a family and we wanted to see how many we could get to come with us to VBS.
I in the mean time asked my mother-in-law to find out what it would take to drive the church van. The Secretary printed up extra postcards for me. All was lined up and God's hand was already starting to work.
The first night we went out we handed out 22 fliers it was a Saturday evening and it seemed like most of them were out at least on our block anyway. Robby and Jack were so eager to invite kids that they had met. Even Ahna started becoming bold and knocking on doors with fliers in hand saying "we habbing BBS at our chuch and my mommy's gibbing fwee wides". I met some parents who were hesitant but willing to comply to give their children something to do in the evenings instead of having them out on the streets. One set of grand parents made a comment about how "the kids practically raise themselves in this neighborhood". This made me think a lot and kept me up that night.
The second night we just handed out 6 fliers but it felt good even though we walked in the rain for a little bit. I told myself and God that I would be happy with 5 children. God had a bigger plan.
Monday- we had our first night of VBS. When I went to pick up the van I discovered that 3 of the 4 back bench seats were not in the van. We located them and were prepared to put them back in and even recruited some muscular arms to helps us. One problem it was poring down rain and by the time we had found the seats and help we were soaked! God has a great sense of humor and we recognized it as such.
God brought 7 children to my door that day asking for permission slips (parents had to sign) to ride on the van. I had my brother-in-law Patrick come and pick up Jason so that I could just focus on the 10 kids in the van. On our way as I drove up the street a little boy, who had come to my door very disappointed because his mother said he couldn't go, followed us on his bike. When we got to the main street he followed us as far as he could go and it broke my heart I had to bite my lip.
Tuesday- we had 10 kids and with my 4 we had 14. Jason was picked up by Patrick again and the van was full.
Wednesday- one word "Chaos" we went from 10 to 15 , 19 if you count mine. We filled the church's 15 passenger van plus my mother-in-laws 7 passenger van to the brim. Unfortunately I had 14 children by myself in the van and this did not work
Thursday - we decided to do 2 trips with the church van. We had 17, 21 all together So much nicer and organized and it took longer but I felt better about this evening.
Tonight the salvation story was presented to the kids and for my neighborhood kids you could tell that some of them have never heard it before. Have you ever seen a child's face light up when they hear for the first time that God loves them and that Jesus died for everyone? I saw that light on 3 children tonight that I brought in the van. A light I will never forget. Will they become children of God? I am praying that they will and I am praying that I can be a light in a dark neighborhood.
Tomorrow is Friday and we have seeds to water.
So I talked to my kids and I told them that I wanted to show them how to be missionaries where we are. We have talked to them about the possablity of going as full time missionaries in the future. I wanted to show them that I am not afraid to be bold and practice what I preach. So we decided that we would pass out fliers to kids as a family and we wanted to see how many we could get to come with us to VBS.
I in the mean time asked my mother-in-law to find out what it would take to drive the church van. The Secretary printed up extra postcards for me. All was lined up and God's hand was already starting to work.
The first night we went out we handed out 22 fliers it was a Saturday evening and it seemed like most of them were out at least on our block anyway. Robby and Jack were so eager to invite kids that they had met. Even Ahna started becoming bold and knocking on doors with fliers in hand saying "we habbing BBS at our chuch and my mommy's gibbing fwee wides". I met some parents who were hesitant but willing to comply to give their children something to do in the evenings instead of having them out on the streets. One set of grand parents made a comment about how "the kids practically raise themselves in this neighborhood". This made me think a lot and kept me up that night.
The second night we just handed out 6 fliers but it felt good even though we walked in the rain for a little bit. I told myself and God that I would be happy with 5 children. God had a bigger plan.
Monday- we had our first night of VBS. When I went to pick up the van I discovered that 3 of the 4 back bench seats were not in the van. We located them and were prepared to put them back in and even recruited some muscular arms to helps us. One problem it was poring down rain and by the time we had found the seats and help we were soaked! God has a great sense of humor and we recognized it as such.
God brought 7 children to my door that day asking for permission slips (parents had to sign) to ride on the van. I had my brother-in-law Patrick come and pick up Jason so that I could just focus on the 10 kids in the van. On our way as I drove up the street a little boy, who had come to my door very disappointed because his mother said he couldn't go, followed us on his bike. When we got to the main street he followed us as far as he could go and it broke my heart I had to bite my lip.
Tuesday- we had 10 kids and with my 4 we had 14. Jason was picked up by Patrick again and the van was full.
Wednesday- one word "Chaos" we went from 10 to 15 , 19 if you count mine. We filled the church's 15 passenger van plus my mother-in-laws 7 passenger van to the brim. Unfortunately I had 14 children by myself in the van and this did not work
Thursday - we decided to do 2 trips with the church van. We had 17, 21 all together So much nicer and organized and it took longer but I felt better about this evening.
Tonight the salvation story was presented to the kids and for my neighborhood kids you could tell that some of them have never heard it before. Have you ever seen a child's face light up when they hear for the first time that God loves them and that Jesus died for everyone? I saw that light on 3 children tonight that I brought in the van. A light I will never forget. Will they become children of God? I am praying that they will and I am praying that I can be a light in a dark neighborhood.
Tomorrow is Friday and we have seeds to water.
Monday, July 4, 2011
You Light Up My Life
Life is full of Fireworks of all kinds.
As our nations birthday is coming to an end I recollect the activities of the weekend. Yesturday we heard a missionary talk who is a teacher at a bible school. He has helped young people find answers through Christ for the past 27 years. What a light he has been to the 600 young people that have gone through his program. In Sunday school we have been studying the life of paul and what a light he was and how his light radiated to the people he made disciples. We have been discussing how we can be lights and apply what Paul tells us to our lives. My goal in life is to be a light like them and find my place in guiding those (that God leads to me) to the Lord.
Most of Robert's family met us at Grams for a cook out. S'mores were made over an open fire and the children enjoyed sparklers. On the way home my mother-in-law and I enjoy God's fire work show as we watched a lightning storm in front of us. God has such amazing ways of lighting up His creation but I think the biggest way he lit us all up was by sending His son. When you bring someone to Lord you get to watch Jesus' light radiate on the face of the person who just discovered the greatest peace ever.
We enjoyed being with the family at the farm museum to watch the fireworks today. I sat at the feet of my husband and was thinking about how our love and marriage are a lot like fireworks. We have bursts of love and excitement everyday that keep the love alive and I doubt it will ever change. Especially since I believe that they are reminders from God, to think of each other and us instead of the kids every second of every day.
"And the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air, gave proof to the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, for the land of the free and the home of the brave".
It is mind boggling to think about what the writer of that song was envisioning the night he wrote those words. I also can't help but think of those serving our country in war zones tonight, where they maybe getting the type of fireworks show that Francis Scott Key saw that night. "Rockets Red Glare, Bombs Bursting In Air" and for what? Not just any freedom, but freedom to be a light of God without having to worry about being arrested or even killed. Thank you God for the country you gave us and thank you for the men and women who are sacrificing enjoying this holiday with their families, but instead, chose to serve you in our military where they are spending the night with their lives on the line for not only freedom for our country, but freedom for all.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
As our nations birthday is coming to an end I recollect the activities of the weekend. Yesturday we heard a missionary talk who is a teacher at a bible school. He has helped young people find answers through Christ for the past 27 years. What a light he has been to the 600 young people that have gone through his program. In Sunday school we have been studying the life of paul and what a light he was and how his light radiated to the people he made disciples. We have been discussing how we can be lights and apply what Paul tells us to our lives. My goal in life is to be a light like them and find my place in guiding those (that God leads to me) to the Lord.
Most of Robert's family met us at Grams for a cook out. S'mores were made over an open fire and the children enjoyed sparklers. On the way home my mother-in-law and I enjoy God's fire work show as we watched a lightning storm in front of us. God has such amazing ways of lighting up His creation but I think the biggest way he lit us all up was by sending His son. When you bring someone to Lord you get to watch Jesus' light radiate on the face of the person who just discovered the greatest peace ever.
We enjoyed being with the family at the farm museum to watch the fireworks today. I sat at the feet of my husband and was thinking about how our love and marriage are a lot like fireworks. We have bursts of love and excitement everyday that keep the love alive and I doubt it will ever change. Especially since I believe that they are reminders from God, to think of each other and us instead of the kids every second of every day.
"And the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air, gave proof to the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, for the land of the free and the home of the brave".
It is mind boggling to think about what the writer of that song was envisioning the night he wrote those words. I also can't help but think of those serving our country in war zones tonight, where they maybe getting the type of fireworks show that Francis Scott Key saw that night. "Rockets Red Glare, Bombs Bursting In Air" and for what? Not just any freedom, but freedom to be a light of God without having to worry about being arrested or even killed. Thank you God for the country you gave us and thank you for the men and women who are sacrificing enjoying this holiday with their families, but instead, chose to serve you in our military where they are spending the night with their lives on the line for not only freedom for our country, but freedom for all.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
This is the song that never ends!
A week ago the kids were singing the same phrase of the same song over and over and by the time Rob and I had had enough we decided that instead of quenching any spirits by screaming at them to "SHSHUUUUUTTTT UUUUUUPPPPPP!" we would sing for them. Robby, Jack, and Ahna were all singing together and this is a very rare occurrence. So Rob and I started singing "This is the song that never ends". Our children started cracking up and after a few rounds they all started singing with us. Memories. What made that song famous? Well "Lamb Chops" of course. What do I remember about "Lamb Chops"? FRIENDSHIP. That's what I remember. Making friends, keeping friends, forgiving friends, caring for friends, etc. I wish tv for my kids was more like "Lamb Chops".
Anyway as Christians, friendships are precious, and even more so. I'll tell you why I think so. Friendship in the church is a brotherhood or sisterhood. You have a connection that is heavenly. And when the other person is not a christian the whole purpose of that friendship is to make sure that friend goes to heaven with you. That is what we want with all our friends. We know that this isn't the only life we have, we'll all have eternal life in Christ with our creator. We don't have to worry about where we are going when we die.
The first time I felt the connection that Christians have with one another was the summer of 2001. I guess you can say that it was the first time I felt part of "the Body". I went on a missions trip to Kenya and met some of the most diverse and awesome people ever. Ranging from 14 years old to 19 years old, I was only 15 and turned 16 while we were there. The only connection we had was Christ and wanting to do something for Him. By the end of the summer we didn't just become friends, we were a family. We prayed for each other, we held each other, we ate together, we washed clothes together, we picked on each other. Through rain, wind, mud, morter, stone, african dive bombing bees, bulldozing goats, life saver steeling monkeys, mesquitos, malaria, and more, we grew and became brothers and sisters in Him. I can't believe that it's been 10 years since we met and spent the summer together. I met my best friend, my future husband and father of my children. I walked away from that summer wandering what God was going to do with my life. Wow what 10 years has brought. I am excited because a reunion is in the works and to find out what God is doing in the lives of the 28 people that went to Kenya that year will be awesome. I love you all so much and I thank God all the time for the call He gave us that year. That and that we answered the Call.
One of my favorite memories that year was of Tyson and Robert. I had to use the squatty and Tyson and Rob decided that it would be funny to pick me up and swing back and forth, Rob had my hands and Tyson had my feet. Back and forth they went until I laughed so hard and screamed "I have to pee, I have to pee!" I thought that was it when they put me down I started running toward the bathroom. NOOOO Tyson had to grab me, pick me up, and throw me over his shoulder. With his shoulder in my stomach, pressing on my just about to explode bladder, he started running toward the cliff. Is this something that a brother would do? Yes and I'm glad he was my brother for the summer. I miss you all and I can't wait to catch up.
meg
Anyway as Christians, friendships are precious, and even more so. I'll tell you why I think so. Friendship in the church is a brotherhood or sisterhood. You have a connection that is heavenly. And when the other person is not a christian the whole purpose of that friendship is to make sure that friend goes to heaven with you. That is what we want with all our friends. We know that this isn't the only life we have, we'll all have eternal life in Christ with our creator. We don't have to worry about where we are going when we die.
The first time I felt the connection that Christians have with one another was the summer of 2001. I guess you can say that it was the first time I felt part of "the Body". I went on a missions trip to Kenya and met some of the most diverse and awesome people ever. Ranging from 14 years old to 19 years old, I was only 15 and turned 16 while we were there. The only connection we had was Christ and wanting to do something for Him. By the end of the summer we didn't just become friends, we were a family. We prayed for each other, we held each other, we ate together, we washed clothes together, we picked on each other. Through rain, wind, mud, morter, stone, african dive bombing bees, bulldozing goats, life saver steeling monkeys, mesquitos, malaria, and more, we grew and became brothers and sisters in Him. I can't believe that it's been 10 years since we met and spent the summer together. I met my best friend, my future husband and father of my children. I walked away from that summer wandering what God was going to do with my life. Wow what 10 years has brought. I am excited because a reunion is in the works and to find out what God is doing in the lives of the 28 people that went to Kenya that year will be awesome. I love you all so much and I thank God all the time for the call He gave us that year. That and that we answered the Call.
One of my favorite memories that year was of Tyson and Robert. I had to use the squatty and Tyson and Rob decided that it would be funny to pick me up and swing back and forth, Rob had my hands and Tyson had my feet. Back and forth they went until I laughed so hard and screamed "I have to pee, I have to pee!" I thought that was it when they put me down I started running toward the bathroom. NOOOO Tyson had to grab me, pick me up, and throw me over his shoulder. With his shoulder in my stomach, pressing on my just about to explode bladder, he started running toward the cliff. Is this something that a brother would do? Yes and I'm glad he was my brother for the summer. I miss you all and I can't wait to catch up.
meg
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Rain Rain Go Away!
Life is hard let's face it. They say that God only gives you what you can handle but do you ever feel that God must think a lot more highly of you than you do of yourself? I'm a mom with 4 kids all of life is bit more complicated with 4 kids in tow. It takes longer to do everything and since Jason was born I was always 15 minutes late to everywhere. I wouldn't give up being 15 minutes late for anything I love my children they are awesome! Today they actually made my life a little easier by keeping themselves occupied. Rob has not 1 but 2 hernias in the most painful of places. Due to us moving and trying to get insurance here in MD he has to wait to have surgery. So our life as we know it is at a stand still. I have been having trouble with a broken tooth that keeps abscessing regardless of antibiotics and the insurance issue is a problem there as well. It's just ironic that it all happened right after we got here and there is nothing we can do but wait.
Today's Rain was Jack getting hives after eating 3 shrimp. Well if anyone get's an allergy it's him, he is a lot like his aunt Erin in the allergy department. Rob can't do anything it hurts to get up and walk to the kitchen not to mention bending over.
I feel like the thunderstorms that happen here. It doesn't just drizzle for awhile with it being overcast and then dwindle away. Here, the clouds build up, roll in, and dump for an hour. I've never ever seen it rain this hard in my life. The thunder that explodes overhead and the lightning that flashes? It makes everyone in the house go silent. The house shakes and the sky (at night) turns white for a split second. The other night that's what my emotions did, when Rob was sent home from the hospital with just some pain meds. I lost it. It wasn't necessarily loud but boy did I dump and light up. The tears sure rained down and what calmed my storm? Rob whispering in my ear "I don't want to be going through this but I'm glad I'm going through this with you." What keeps my inner storm calm? Robby (the next day) climbing up in my lap giving me a kiss and saying "Mommy I love you". It's crazy to feel God's presence in the arms of my 7 year old.
I know God doesn't give us more than we can handle. He also gives us ways out and we're watching for them. But He also gives us times where we break so that we can rely more on Him instead of ourselves.
In brokenness we are strong in Him. I am learning to praise Him for my times of brokenness.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the Rain. Without storms we wouldn't know what calm is. I thank You for the smell of Your creation after a storm, in it's freshness and newness, after receiving a much needed refreshing drink of Your grace and love. Thank You for the arms of my husband and the arms of my children as small as they are they help me feel the physical presence of Your grace and love.
In Your Sons Name,
Amen
Today's Rain was Jack getting hives after eating 3 shrimp. Well if anyone get's an allergy it's him, he is a lot like his aunt Erin in the allergy department. Rob can't do anything it hurts to get up and walk to the kitchen not to mention bending over.
I feel like the thunderstorms that happen here. It doesn't just drizzle for awhile with it being overcast and then dwindle away. Here, the clouds build up, roll in, and dump for an hour. I've never ever seen it rain this hard in my life. The thunder that explodes overhead and the lightning that flashes? It makes everyone in the house go silent. The house shakes and the sky (at night) turns white for a split second. The other night that's what my emotions did, when Rob was sent home from the hospital with just some pain meds. I lost it. It wasn't necessarily loud but boy did I dump and light up. The tears sure rained down and what calmed my storm? Rob whispering in my ear "I don't want to be going through this but I'm glad I'm going through this with you." What keeps my inner storm calm? Robby (the next day) climbing up in my lap giving me a kiss and saying "Mommy I love you". It's crazy to feel God's presence in the arms of my 7 year old.
I know God doesn't give us more than we can handle. He also gives us ways out and we're watching for them. But He also gives us times where we break so that we can rely more on Him instead of ourselves.
In brokenness we are strong in Him. I am learning to praise Him for my times of brokenness.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the Rain. Without storms we wouldn't know what calm is. I thank You for the smell of Your creation after a storm, in it's freshness and newness, after receiving a much needed refreshing drink of Your grace and love. Thank You for the arms of my husband and the arms of my children as small as they are they help me feel the physical presence of Your grace and love.
In Your Sons Name,
Amen
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