Mountain House

This past weekend our family (minus Alexandra who had to work) was able to go to the mountains in North Caroline for a short vacation. We rented a beautiful house with a beautiful view. We referred to it as the "mountain house" to Sarah and Joel. After driving over six hours (including rest stops and a dinner break) we arrived

 

While there we visited Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls, Blowing Rock, the original Mast General Store, and more. We were able to do lots of hiking, even some climbing, and sight seeing. I love it in the mountains. It is so beautiful and peaceful there, and I would not mind living there.

Time went by all too quickly, Sunday morning rolled around and we had to leave. However, on our way home we were able to stop at Mt. Airy, NC which is the town that inspired the town of Mayberry in the Andy Griffith Show! Even though it was raining, it was till kinda cool to walk around the the old town a little bit, and drive by some sights.

 

It was a great vacation, and I hope that we can go back to the mountains (even if in a different area) soon. If you would like to see more pictures then check out my Facebook page.

Rancho 3M 2012

My week at Rancho 3M with the kids, staff, and the rest of the E-team was one of the best, if not the best, week of 2012 so far. Excitement built as we drew closer and closer to the ranch and especially when we pulled in the gate, and the children surrounded us with welcome, hugs, smiles, Spanish chatter, and begs for pushes on the swing.

One of the things that Dean (the director of Rancho 3M) had told us that the kids really needed was love and attention. With the danger in Mexico in the past several years the teams have been fewer, smaller, and more focused on work leaving the people on the teams too tired to play much with the kids. This week at Rancho 3M we were able to spend a lot of time interacting with the children. Melissa had brought enough crafts to have an activity for them every day. We also spent a day where Alicia gave the girls fabulous haircuts, other ladies on our team styled the girls' hair, and we even painted fingernails. Other members of the team involved the kids in various sports including soccer, volleyball, and baseball.

Other work was also completed. Garden beds were moved and planted, swamp coolers received maintenance, the rooms of the house of one of  the families on staff were painted, and some of us organized and sorted clothing in a storage area. All these, and more projects, were completed while still allowing for plenty of time playing and loving on the children which was wonderful.

Sunday we were all able to go the church in Juarez. It was a neat experience being in a Spanish church and singing worship songs in Spanish. A small taste of the biblical reference to "every tribe, and language, and people, and nation" (Rev 5:9). I could understand the sermon very well because Eric preached (with a Spanish interpreter).  

Monday we all woke up around 5 AM or earlier and by 5:30 we were outside to begin the goodbyes. Many of the staff and most of the kids had woken up at this early hour in order to say goodbye. It was a long time getting back home, I was exhausted. It was good to be home, but I miss Rancho 3M and those children. I think that this trip has firmed up my thoughts that I want to do something missional with at least part of the years of my life. I do not yet know for sure when or where (though something long-term with Rancho 3M is a possibility), but I want to do something. If you think of it, please be praying that God's leading would be clear to me, and that He would provide for all the needs for whatever He calls me to do.

Below are some pictures from the trip. I have even more posted on my facebook page if you would like to see them!

 Santos has one of the cutest smiles around

 The dirt was so dry and dusty we all had to wear face masks!

 Hairdos!

 The skies there were so beautiful

Monday

On Monday, Lord willing, I and the rest of the E-team (about twenty others) will be boarding an airplane to fly on out to Texas and then drive into Mexico to serve the Rancho 3M orphanage in Guadalupe. Please be praying for all of us on this team. Below are some specific prayer requests in no particular order. 

-That God would prepare each and every person on this trip physically, mentally, and spiritually. That we would all go with ready and willing attitudes to serve however we may be needed without complaining not even in our minds.

-For good health for every person. Obviously, serious health issues would be a problem, but even relatively minor things such as colds can have negative effects.

-For safety; from the heat, from accidents, and from the various other dangers of Mexico.

-That we would be able to be a large blessing to Rancho 3M through the projects we are able to complete for them.

-That we would be able to be a large blessing to the children specifically through our interactions and time with them. That we would be a light to the unsaved children (even that they would be saved!) and an encouragement to those who are already saved.

-For safe travels, and little to no delays. Also, for no issues with border crossings.

-That God would meet each and every member of this team during the week. That we would be changed for the better, drawn closer to God, and that He would teach us new things that He wants us to learn.

-For Rancho 3M that God would continue to bless them and provide for all their needs so that they can continue to serve these children. They are also in the process of trying to open up a home for babies on the ranch. For more information on Rancho 3M you can find them on Facebook or go to www.rancho3m.com

-For anything else that you can think of or any way that God leads you to pray!

Thanks in advance for your prayers! I will be sure to update this blog sometime after we return.

Thoughts on Life

Lately, and lately meaning the past several months or even more, I have been thinking off and on about what life will look like once I am finished with school. A part of me is somewhat discontent with the idea of living what many would call a "normal" life of getting a job and advancing as far as possible in it. Are not Christians called to more than that? I recently read the book "Kisses for Katie" which even added to my thinking. I am wondering, should I do some sort of mission work? Even if it just for a year or so? Granted we are not all called to go out of our country or even out of our hometowns, but I think that can often be used as an excuse. Even if I stay here I want to make sure that I make my life meaningful in God's eyes; even if that is as simple as "loving my neighbor" in practical and very real ways and/or giving financially to organizations to help feed the hungry, heal the sick, and reach the lost. I could even give to people locally. I am sure we have all seen those people with cardboard signs asking for money...we usually say we don't want to give because "they'll just spend it on drugs and alcohol," but how do we know this? What verse in the Bible can you use to support not giving? Granted I do believe we should be wise about to whom we give but sometimes maybe God wants us to give five bucks (or even more) to the man or woman asking for it. We spend a lot of money on ourselves, and a lot of it is for unnecessary items. Not that we cannot ever have any of those items, but so many people are starving to death while we buy new cars, new technology, coffees, and more, and say we cannot afford to give more. As Katie says in her book, God did not create too many people for the amount of resources He has provided.

Whether my future holds teaching in a school in Hampton Roads, being a stay at home wife and mother, missions abroad, and/or something completely different I do want to strive to be seeking how to serve the needy, and I think we should all have this mind set as Christians. This song I am posting below seems to fit with this; I often fall into the same practice that the singer mentions of conhtributing money, "but never give till it hurts."

In his book, "Loving the Way Jesus Loves", Phil Ryken says,  "the real issue for most of us is that we always want to place limits on our love. We are ready to give, but only when we have something left over. We are willing to care as long as it isn’t too inconvenient. We are able to love provided that people love us back." I don't want to be like this. I don't want to only serve and give when it is convenient. After all, it sure was not very convenient for Jesus to take on human form and be tortured and killed on a cross, and yet He still did it for me.

Sorry if this is kind of disorganized and rambling, but I just thought I would share some of the thoughts that have been mixing around in my brain of late.

 

Adoption Day!

As many of you have probably already heard, for quite a while now my parents have been working towards adopting the precious two (almost three) year old girl in the picture to the left. This Wednesday was the court hearing to finalize her adoption into our family. Even though the court room was in another state, my parents were able to "attend" over the phone from our home where the social worker and a Notary also came. The hearing went by without a hitch and she is now officially Sarah Morrison! Thankfully she has already been able to live with us for while now so we already have a bond with her and her with us. Her and Joel are only a few days apart and are almost like twins. It is so fun to watch and listen to them interacting with each other.

To celebrate we all went to the Botanical Gardens as a family. We then came home to a spaghetti dinner and ice cream for dessert. My parents also gave her a stuffed animal dog as an adoption day gift which she loves. Below are a few pictures from our day.

Backtracking: The Last Two Days of Next

I decided to go back in time a little bit and briefly cover the final two days of the Next conference. I have already covered the first two days so you can scroll down to see them both if you would like.

May 28, 2012

This day began with a great sermon by Kevin DeYoung (titled The Church + Holiness) on our conscience. He talked about how our conscience "is the mark of being an adult" and "separates us from animals." However, out conscience can, and does, go wrong; we can have an evil conscience, a seared conscience, or even a defiled or weak conscience. What we want to have is a good/clean conscience. He also stated that, "God means for your conscience to be your friend." It can show us the wrong in our lives that we need to deal with, and it can show us when we are forgiven and clean. Another of his statements was that, "God forgives you, in Christ, as an act of justice. It has been paid for."

After this we broke for another free lunch! It was raining so we had to eat inside, but Suzanne, Lindsay, and I chose a seat on the floor near some glass doors so we could at least see outside.

The second sermon of the day was by Matt Chandler on "The Church + Culture." He spoke about how we need to be salt and light in the culture around us. He stated, "God has uniquely placed you where you are" and asked if we saw our college, neighborhood, etc in this way.

These were the only two sermons of the day. There were some breakout type sessions for pastors and worship leaders (which I did not attend). In addition, that evening (as well as the evening before) C.J. Mahaney sat down with one of the speakers and talked with them about their lives. This night it was Matt Chandler and the night before it was with Kevin DeYoung.

May 29, 2012

The last day of the conference. C.J. Mahaney spoke that morning on "The Church + Disappointment" and how we should react when we are disappointed with one's church.  We ought to remember God's sovereignty, avoid complaining, and remember that it is not about us, but about God, and Christ, and loving other people. We also need to remember to hold fast to the gospel because it can ultimately satisfy, but no church can.

After this message ended, we said some goodbyes, and then Lindsay, Suzanne, and I waited until our shuttle arrived to transport us to the Orlando airport. The three of us were on the same flight, but we had quite a bit of time to wait in the airport. 


We split up in Atlanta with Suzanne heading home on a different flight from Lindsay and I (who were together). Flights home are never quite as exciting, and I think we were all tired from the great weekend. I know I slept part of the time! It was a wonderful weekend, but it was also good to return home.

 

These and all the other messages from Next 2012 (as well as previous Next/New Attitude conferences) are available for free at www.thisisnext.org

The Unexpected

I had lots of plans for last weekend; Opsail, Busch Gardens, etc. But as Proverbs 16:9 states, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Instead I spent a big chunk of my weekend in the emergency room. I had a seizure at home, in bed, early Friday morning on the 8th, and my parents took me to the ER where I had a second seizure. While in the ER the doctors ran several different tests, and ended up keeping me overnight. Throughout this time I was in and out of sleep and consciousness (thankfully not conscious during the seizures!) so my memory of my time their is spotty and limited. There are even times when I was awake that I do not remember and would not have known about if someone had not told me. For example, I had no idea that they had already done the EEG until a nurse or doctor mentioned it.

I was discharged from the hospital on Saturday and recommended to take a week off, and boy did I need it. I was very tired and out of it (probably getting used to the side effects of  medication they put me on did not help). On top of that my tongue was so sore (I chewed it up pretty badly during the seizures) that I could hardly eat anything for several days which did not help with the exhaustion. Thankfully later in the week I started to improve, and now, though my tongue is still a bit sore, I am able to talk and eat almost normally. I still feel a little tired and "off", but figure that could also be due to still getting used to the medication. I was able to go to church today and will start back at work tomorrow. However, for safety reasons, I will not be allowed to drive for at least six months which does make things somewhat more complicated.

Next I want to take a second to thank all of you who have prayed and given encouraging notes, comments, visits, etc. It is neat to see how many people have been praying for me through this time. Please keep the prayers coming as we move forward with figuring this out. The "not knowing" is part of what makes me nervous; this could never happen again, this could happen often, this could happen once every ten years; we just don't know at this point. I see a neurologist next month so maybe that will shed some light on possibilities, but we shall see.

A verse God encouraged me with the other day is Psalm 139: 15-16. It says, "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them" It encouraged my by showing me that God MADE my body the way it is, and God KNEW that these seizures would happen when they did. He knew this even before I was here on this earth. Furthermore, He knows what is in store for me in the future; every last part of it. I do not have any control, I may not have any idea what is going to happen, but God is in complete control and has complete knowledge.

Next 2012: Day 2

May 27, 2012
(To start reading from day one scroll down)

 This was the first full day of the Next conference. I, and many others, needed coffee after staying up so late. Conveniently there is a coffee shop located in between the hotel rooms side of the convention center and the side where the conference was held in the Gatlin Ballroom. With a frappacino in hand for breakfast I headed to the first sessions of the new day. The day began with two sessions before lunch (with a short break in between).


Jared Mellinger gave a great sermon titled "The Church + Membership" about why it is important that we join ourselves to a local church. He spoke about the benefits (blessings) of being a part of a local church. The benefits/blessings include committed fellowship, greater growth, experiencing spiritual gifts, spiritual protection, godly leadership, and a powerful witness to the world. He stated that, "Church membership means active participation. We should each be involved with a sense of ownership."

Ian McConnell's sermon, titled "The Church + Sunday", was closely related. He spoke on the importance of attending your local church regularly, stating that, "We can experience a taste of Heaven hear on earth every time we gather with our local church." We have great privileges and great responsibilities that come with attending our local church.

After these sessions were over we were given free lunch! Lindsay, Suzanne, and I picked up our delicious sub sandwiches and headed outdoors to enjoy a picnic lunch in the gorgeous weather and sunshine.

During our long afternoon we break we relaxed, took a walk to the grocery store to find some cheaper food and coffee, and spent some time in and near the pool. It was nice to have this break time. 

The final session of the day was Kevin DeYoung preaching a sermon titled "The Church + Friendship." The was probably one of my favorite messages from the conference; it was on being a faithful friend rather than a foul or fake friend. It was personally convicting, encouraging, and applicable.

We finished out the evening with some late-night dancing thanks to some people who had brought along speakers and music. Also had a wonderful chat with Suzanne late into the night (or morning rather) about Kevin DeYoung's message and its application in our lives.

For these messages or any of the others (or even those from previous Next/New Attitude conferences) visit www.thisisnext.org