So - things truly have been too quiet on this blog....and I apologize profusely!! The last few weeks have been insanely busy and we knew they would be. Truthfully the last few weeks have been a crazy mixture of joy and fun and hurt and chaos and feeling overwhelmed and loving what we're doing all at the same time. After a particularly difficult day the other week, I came home feeling discouraged about several different things going on - and not having had much sleep for several nights in a row didn't help much either. That evening Reid mentioned that someone was coming to look at the house we're currently renting for the 2nd time and was bringing an inspector, requesting that we be out of the house for a couple of hours on Sunday. It was all I needed to send me over the edge in that moment.
I went upstairs and just sat down on the floor next to my side of the bed. As I was talking to Jesus about the fact that I really felt like I was at the end of myself in so many areas I very clearly felt him impressing on me the following: "The more powerless you are the more powerful I can show myself to be in your life and in the situations you find yourself. You must decrease so that I can increase!" And in that instant I realized I had one of two options - I could either sink into complete despair or choose to rest in the Father heart of God to do the miraculous. And there really was this quiet sense of hope and excitement that began to rise in my heart in that moment. I am so thankful to know a God who relates to us so personally....no need to impress Him, try to please Him, earn His love...He just comes and loves us where we are in the moment.
There are a lot of good things going on right now as a new group of students has arrived. We had our first family group breakfast last week and also met with our covenant groups. I'm truly excited about both, in particular the three ladies I will be meeting with each week. During Family Group times we will be planning some fun activities as well as some group discussions on a video series and during our covenant times we will start with sharing each of our journey lines with each other and then plan to use Larry Crabb's book "Connecting" as a basis from which to discuss Biblical Community - as well as have some fun activities scattered in between. Our first activity together as a family group was to compete in a volleyball tournament against the other family groups - we lost every single game - but we had a lot fun in the process and improved with each game. We intend to have a rematch! :)
Reid taught his first class the other week and so enjoyed being back in the classroom - I can't remember his exact lecture title but it has to do with preparing your heart for God's Word. He taught something similar at the mission in Columbia and is enjoying tweaking it a little and adding some fresh thoughts in these days. He also took a group of students to the Rescue Mission in Denver and said it felt like he was home. He is looking forward to doing that every week this semester and building relationships down there as well.
Ian is really enjoying school (some dear ones provided for him to be able to attend the local Christian classical school at our church this year - just one more thing we're so thankful for!) and it's just a delight to see him looking forward to classes every day and doing his homework diligently - most of the time! :) We've also entered full-swing into homeschooling once more with the girls and have a full day of Classical Conversations on Thursdays - the long days can be challenging but getting to spend time with the moms and getting to know them has been such a treat and a blessing both to me and the girls as they are making some new friends in the community.
It's fall now up here in Grand County and the aspen trees are turning a beautiful shade of yellow. It seems like every day the scenery around us changes. The other morning the mountain tops were covered in a powdered sugar dusting of snow which means it will only be a few more weeks before we get our first snowfall down here in Fraser Valley as well. There IS so much to delight in and be thankful for and we also enjoy our walks over to Timberline for supper in the evenings, just soaking in the fresh air and ever changing mountain views.
So, just a few prayer requests to pass along - we've listed our house in Columbia with a new realtor and, with the help of our friend Chris McCutchan and Master's Men Remodeling, are making some updates to the house as well. We know so many people trying to sell their home right now, who are carrying both a mortgage and a rental payment. These are no easy times for any of us. Would you continue to pray with us for the sale of our home?
Our housing here remains up in the air for now - but we're at peace with what the Lord has for us...at least for today! :)
Most of all we would covet your prayers for energy and rest for all that we need to do in these days. Our support has remained low and of course that puts a psychological strain on us too - but we know that there are many friends who are struggling financially in these days and we find ourselves thankful for simple things and enjoying them all the more. And that's not a bad place to be. :) More about that in that newsletter that I keep mentioning that hasn't gone out yet - but will shortly I hope! :)
(p.s. the picture above was taken with my sister Julie as she just returned from Africa after 2.5 years! SO fun to see her and take her and my parents over Trailridge to Estes Park and catch up with my Aunt and Uncle there as well!)
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