Never Once

So many things in my life are changing.  We leave in 4 days for a different country that is NOTHING at all like the one I grew up in.  So hard to fathom. My kids have no clue what is about to happen to them.  We are saying so many goodbyes my eyes can barely release any more tears. I never knew how painful it would be to watch your son cry all the way to school because he said bye to his dog or watch and listen to 9 &11 year old girls chase our van while continually yelling "GOOD BYE ANNIE" as  we drive away. It's  right that we are leaving but MAN is it hard.

This morning as I was spending time with Jesus and telling him that thru the pain He's worth it, He brought to mind a song that my heart needed to hear,  Never Once by Matt Redman.  This song pushed me into remembering.  The command God gave to the Israelites to REMEMBER is the command I received today.  I'm leaving the only land I've really ever known headed to the place of promise.  And to survive and thrive I have to remember.

So this morning I listened to the words of this song an  I cried as I remembered the faithfulness of God.

 Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

He has led us every step of our lives.  He never left me when I thought I'd be single forever.  He never left me when I was in the depths of post-partum depression.  He never left me as I was trying to figure out how to be a wife, parent, pastor.  He never left me when my Daddy died.  Because He was with us is the only reason we could disciple people well.  Because He was with us we could help create a place for children and families to grow in their relationship with Him.  The only good we have EVER done is because HE IS WITH US!

And now as we head to the other side off the world...literally.  I can go with confidence.  Not confidence in my calling, not confidence in my husband's great giftings or vision.  But because NEVER ONCE have we walked alone.

And we won't start now

Follow the link to listen to the song by Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=722zPX1npcA

Rites of passage

Well, my oldest BABY will soon be 10!  I cannot believe it.  Seems like just yesterday I was holding her in my arms.  To celebrate her 10th birthday, we allowed her to get her ears pierced.  All part of becoming a woman...right?  

I think Annie is one of the most beautiful girls in the world.  She is growing into such a responsible, thoughtful & considerate young lady.  I love seeing her mature. What a gift she is to me.  And I love how she looks in her earrings....she's beautiful inside & out!  (And yes...there are tiny star earrings in her earlobe...squint & you can see them!) :)

Thankful for Family

Well...we are officially one week away from our departure date.  Let's just say if there is an emotion, one of us has felt it!

As we prepare to move overseas we are trying to say Good-Bye well & anticipate the Good-Hello's we'll have once get to South East Asia.  We've had the honor of spending some good quality time with family.  I am so thankful that both of our families support us....even when supporting us means pain for them.  What a gift we have.  We love you FAMILY.  We couldn't do this without your support!

Girl Time at the Nail Salon---Thanks Granny!

WE LOVE OUR COUSINS!!!!

Shine Camp

Ten years ago, we started summer camp for our church kids with Christ Fellowship & Hope in the City.  It is one of our favorite things we had the privilege of doing while we worked in Waco.  Though we weren't in charge of camp this year, we were super blessed this year to have the honor of Shawn being this year's camp speaker!  What a treat.  I told some people that if camp were happening in Waco, and our whole family couldn't be there I might have went into an unhealthy grieving place!  But God knows what our hearts need...even when we don't!  Being at camp was good for Shawn...he got to use his creative communication gift (he's been missing that since we switched jobs).  I got to say some GOOD good-byes & our kids spent 2 1/2 days with their friends learning how to SHINE like Jesus!  

Annie was in a cabin with her best friends....4th grade girl Heaven!

Josh's best friend...Noah came from Houston to go to camp.  I cried MULTIPLE times as I watched them together.  They had a BLAST & were inseperable!

THANK YOU ACC, HITC & CF for letting us have one last Hurrah at camp!  It means more than any of you could ever know!