Picture Update

So, Reid downloaded a bunch of pictures from his phone and I thought I'd post a quick picture update - since those are worth 1000 words! :) Life isn't usually all "mountain tops" up here - it really is all about walking with God in the nitty-gritty every-day, ordinary day and trusting Him for all things, resting in His grace and mercy every day to get us through. But here are some snapshots of some of the more fun times in recent weeks. Above - we took the family hiking to the weather station on top of Berthoud pass....it is QUITE a hike - but the kids were TROUPERS! I love being above treeline - is is such a beautiful change of scenery.
On the women's retreat we hiked up Sol Vista for the sunrise and some solitude/prayer time - it was the last day for the ski-lift to be open for the summer season so we went back up that afternoon with the family - the aspens are BEAUTIFUL right now and there was this lovely aspen grove right at the top.
Some of our students on kitchen duty! Gotta love the hair nets!
One of the focuses of Timberline is outdoor spiritual training - so much to learn about ourselves and our Creator God when we're outdoors, exploring, learning etc. So one thing the staff did was get the students up at 2:00am to hike Mt. Ida over in the Rocky Mtn. National Forest. Some pictures below at the summit.

Chris and Tina - our "exceptions" as we call them - a married couple that have joined us as students for the year. What a NEAT couple - they are in our family group and Reid and I have really enjoyed having them in our covenant groups and getting to know them better.

Kim - my fellow staff covenant leader - love this young lady! She's a student from last year and a fellow south-Carolinian - and so much fun!
I love this picture of Jessica - also a former student, now in charge of house-cleaning at TL. Our girls especially love these ladies!!
At the top! :)
Reid and Jim took a group of students hiking on their first weekend here.

Another Berthoud Pass hiking picture :)
That's our family almost at the top of Berthoud - Reid ran down the continental divide hiking trail a little ways to take this one.

Some of the Brasher ladies together... Mom, my sister Julie, my aunt and the girls over near Estes Park

Love this picture of Jim (our head cook), Pete (our program director) and Ian! But the rainbow is quite nice! :)
The girls in Denver when Papa and Mama June were visiting.


J-J birthday shopping for Mama in Denver with Daddy.
Ok - I think that's all for now! :)

September at Timberline

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!)

Various Pictures and Brief Update

Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but it seems the blog was somehow hacked as I just found a weird soccer post of some kind. I deleted it but in case you checked in and wondered what in the world was going on, just know that we wondered the same! :) Just goes to show I should check into the blog more often! :)

Things have been so busy here these last few weeks though as we've had family in town again - Mom and Dad Brasher - as well as JULIE who has just recently returned from Africa for a year. In addition we've been getting ready for school. Through some very generous gifts for Ian's schooling we've been able to enroll him in the local Christian Classical school at the church we attend and he is LOVING it - his first comment every day is "I can't wait to go back tomorrow!" Don't know many 6th graders that love school but it says a lot for the school and for Matt Murdoch, his teacher - and former Timberline staffer! Ian told me he is most excited that he is in a school again that teaches history and since there are only two 6th graders (they combine 5th and 6th grade for the most part), he is enjoying some virtual one-on-one tutoring for Math and Writing (he does struggle some in Math). Ian is happy and therefore we all are! :)

The girls are also back in school now as we started homeschooling again last week and we had our first day of Classical Conversations on Thursday as well. I think it went well and even though the numbers are low, it's a good group to start out with and we hope it will grow in days, months etc. to come. Bibleschool starts this coming week with students arriving on Wednesday. We have a large family group this year and are looking forward to getting to know the students better, praying that we'll be able to continue to stay in this house for the time being as the space really is ideal for the large family group we'll be having breakfast with every other week and everything else going on.

Our house in Columbia is really weighing heavily on us and we would really appreciate your prayers for it's sale or rental. There is some upkeep (yardwork, painting) etc. that we need to have done and some days it is easy to be discouraged about the current housing market. We know we are not the only ones in this boat.

Well, I finally downloaded some pictures from our camera so up they go - they're a mixture of all kinds of things.

We went over Trailridge to Estes Park to see my Uncle Phil and Aunt Lenora together with Mom, Dad, and Julie - and here are some pictures taken along the way.

Julie-Joy and Jenna so happy to get to spend some time with Aunt Julie again after two and a half years! :) We wouldn't have dreamed that we would see her again in Colorado when we said good-bye to her the last time!

Some pictures from Ian's graduation from 5th Grade at Fraser Valley Elementary School.


Reid's sister Susie and her family were up during that time and we had a blast showing them around our new home! :)

So - since God has enable us to remain in this home longer than we had even dared to hope, we've decided that we can't keep living with a "temporary" mindset and have taken down some of our landlords things and put up things from home! :) One of the things are the curtains/valances. We had some family members ask for pictures so here you go! :) Diane did come and get a BUNCH of her furniture (including all the guestroom furniture - which is now EMPTY!! Glad we had all the family in town while it was still there). So you'll recognize some of the pieces that we've replaced things with.

These are blurry - sorry about that! :( But here are the German curtains - just for you June! :) You can't see'em real well though! :( The left corner now has my Dad's cabinet that he made to replace the black one that Diane took out. We also put the love-seat that was in the masterbedroom downstairs to replace the couch that they took with them. So this picture looks really wide open as it was before we put the other items back downstairs! :)


Yours truly finally did something more drastic about the gray and got a much needed haircut. Actually there is going to be more gray visible from now on - it'll just blend in better. SO thankful to have found a good hairdresser up here!!! :)
Well, that's all for now folks. I had better sign off and make sure the girls are occupied on this lovely Saturday afternoon. I went for a walk this morning and as I was coming home a mama and baby coyote crossed the road a little ways ahead of me! Amazing to watch!! There was not a cloud in the sky and the quiet/solitude, bright blue sky and fresh crisp air (40 degrees this morning) was just what the doctor ordered... :) Let us hear from you!!!

Living with ADHD

It had been one of those nights….sleepless, thinking about all the “what if’s” – and the what if’s, they were rolling....how can I help her make good decisions, how can I help her stop and think about her actions? What will life be like when she is a teenager or a young adult, making relational decisions on her own? What consequences of her impulsiveness will she have to learn to live with? When will I learn not to be so impatient when she has impulsive reactions?

It was about a year ago that we sent one of our precious three to an all girls Christian camp with my parents who were serving as missionaries in residence that week. During that time she spent a couple of days with my aunt who works in Special Ed. That’s when we heard “do you know she has ADHD?” And the lightbulbs came on – the infamous “aha” moment – where EVERYTHING makes sense. All the disciplining and talking until you’re blue in the face….the constant need to remind her to “focus,” the difficulties in school, the challenges in interpersonal relationships with other children.

I had been working hard to raise all three kids, wanting them to be a blessing to those around them (or perhaps in all truthfulness, seeking accolades for my child raising abilities?) but fighting discouragement on SO many levels. I must not be firm or consistent enough in my discipline I thought. It had to be my fault. If I did things right then my child would be calm and still and act more mature. Her lack of verbal skills must be my fault for not communicating well with her.

So I tried harder and disciplined more severely. I was repeating myself until I was blue in the face. I would jealously look at other families where, from the outside, everything seemed so easy and wondered how in the world they raised their kids to be so obedient and calm all the time. Wondering what in the world I was still doing wrong. So I would read more books and ask for more advice. But I was coming to my whits’ end. Right to the place God brings us when we are trying everything in our own strength and logic. Some things defy logic and some kids just don’t “grow by the rules.” They are a blessing to us … they bless us by driving us to our knees, closer to Jesus, being the sandpaper that rubs away at our impatience and arrogance and pride and shows us our own inadequacies and our need for a SAVIOR.

Yesterday I had the privilege of having a lengthy conversation with a new friend in church, a lady who has spent almost 2 decades in special ed. When I mentioned ADHD she nodded, having had this precious one in Sunday School. “Yes,” her soft words, “I noticed right away.” “Do you have any advice?” I asked. “Think of life from her perspective,” her soft reply came again. “You may have told her to do something for the 10^th time, but to her it is the first time she has heard you. And she doesn’t understand why you are upset with her….again!” And my thoughts continue....as this little one’s words from the night before ring in my head. “I don’t know how not to be bad. It seems that I’m just always bad. I don’t even know how to do what is right.”

She doesn't understand why we get frustrated and irritated with her. All she knows is that many seem frustrated with her high energy, some have made fun of how she talks and and that she is constantly being told to calm down and focus. She gets frustrated at her inability to communicate her thoughts verbally or appropriately. She doesn't understand why her siblings have an easier time making friends or don’t seem to get in as much trouble. For her the answer “I DON’T KNOW!” to the question “why did you do this?” is often a legitimate answer. But then there is also the habit of manipulation that all kids have learned and she is no exception. And as a parent I seem to make more mistakes than not in distinguishing the difference.

Yesterday as we were driving home Reid said "He sees your fears!" And He answered by giving words of encouragement through a new friend. Yes He does. I'm thankful that at each stage in her life she has been surrounded by what she has needed. Timberline is no exception. She has been shown a tremendous amount of love and care by the staff and students. But there are some new steps to take in the days ahead and we'll need wisdom for those.

In the mean time I look at her bright blue sparkly eyes and hear her laugh as she flies by with her "hair on fire." I remember how her siblings miss her when she's gone because she is always the one that initiates the fun around here ... and I think about how dull and how very arrogant our family would be without her ... And I remember that God gave her to us for a reason and He gave us to her for a reason. And mainly I remember that she is HIS and He takes care of His children. He made her just the way she is. So dear one - if you ever read this - He makes no mistakes. And I love you just the way you are. All of us need His Grace to work through things in our life. And by His Grace....we will.

Thoughts on 13 years of marriage

Over the past 13 years

- we've had major paradigm shifts personally, relationally, psychologically and spiritually. (I remember Reid saying from the outset that he wanted us to allow each other the freedom to change and not stay the way we were. So glad that he built that premise into our "marriage DNA." )

- we've moved 7 times - 6 times with children and 3 times out of state - and though each move seems to get harder I'm so thankful we've always joyfully moved WITH each other and had each other there for love and support during the difficult times of transition.

- We've entered the adventure of child raising, the world of "running your own business," left our comfort zones for new adventures God was calling us to, and run headlong into the world of homeschooling, (and had to let go and entrust God with public schooling), delved into the mysteries, confusion and joys of ADHD and the adventure of serving in full-time ministry

- I think of walks on the beach, sunsets in the Smokies, thunderstorms in the Rockies and sunrises in all three areas....and am amazed at the creation God has allowed us to see with our own eyes.

- we've spent most of our lives not really knowing what we were doing - a lot of time thinking we did - but thankful that He actually knew all along, still knows and carries us through one day at a time

- Some things haven't changed - like our music preferences! :)

- I think of times of mutual misunderstanding and hurt followed by restoration and sweet forgiveness, times in which hopelessness at what we were facing seemed to overwhelm our hearts ... and then Jesus met us with His sweet mercy with the dawn of the morning, hope rising in our hearts as the sun rose on the horizon.

- I think of many funny quotes and the things our kids have said that have kept us laughing. I see three little (or not so little) faces, bright blue eyes, precious reminders of our love

- I see beautiful purple and white wildflowers in a vase in the kitchen this morning and an empty cup of tea by the kitchen sink....both sweet reminders of Reid's love, the way he serves me and our family... a reminder that anniversaries are not all about trips away or extravagant gifts or over-the-top creative ideas. But about loving each other in the nitty-gritty's of life, expressing our love in simple ways, by loving and serving each other ....when we're tired, even grumpy ....and being living expressions of God's grace, forgiveness, hope and love to each other.

I am richly blessed indeed. Happy 13th Anniversary Reid! :) Thanks for the beautiful flowers you picked, the cup of tea you made and the fire you put in the fireplace this cold morning. I love you!

July with the Dales

So.....July has been a very busy month for us here and we've been a long time in updating. For starters we've had a great time visiting with Reid's Mom for a week and then with Reid's Dad and step mom for 5 days as well. What a treat to get to show them our new home and share Timberline and our co-laborers in Christ, our fellow brothers and sisters up here with them.

In the midst of that we've had several guest groups in and out. We have one more group coming in next week and then we're gearing up for bibleschool to start in September. The following are a few pictures that Reid's Dad took this past week up on Trailridge (the road between Grand County and Estes Park). We got up pretty close the elk this time around as you can tell! :)





Rufus and June as we were entering Trailridge/Rocky Mountain National Park.
We were even able to deliver a good view of a moose this time around! He had a bunch of cars stopped in Grand Lake and had apparently been there for quite some time, enjoying being admired.


Papa actually had taken some pictures of the day after Christmas when we pulled out of his house and headed out on our treck west. These have posted kind of backwards. Kind of choked up looking at these....this was an exciting but emotional day...


The Dale Family starting a new phase in life on December 26th, 2011! :)

So things are going well. We're really enjoying summer weather up here. The kids have been involved with VBS and this week they are enrolled in Sports week - a church from Prosper Texas has come up as a missions project and is putting on a sports camp for the kids in Grand County. Ian is enrolled in football, Julie-Joy in martial arts and Jenna in Cheerleading. They are having a blast. Mommy has enjoyed it as well as it has enabled me to work for Dawn a little later in the day rather than early in the morning.

Please continue to be in prayer for our housing situation and the sale or rental of house in Columbia. We will need to make some decisions in August - some changes one way or another and are looking forward to being able to look BACK and see what God did during August and September.

We would also appreciate your prayers for a good beginning of the school year - for our kids and for bibleschool. September means the beginning of family groups, covenant groups, as well as Classical Conversations for the girls - Jennifer will be tutoring the writing and grammar class for the first time and is looking forward to a new challenge there. We haven't yet decided what Ian will be doing as far as his schooling is concerned. The Christian school has awarded him a good scholarship and we are in the process of weighing what the best decision is.

Our hope and prayer is that we'll be able to head to NC and SC for Christmas. In the mean time we are looking forward to Jennifer's parents and her sister Julie visiting us at the end of August as well. Julie has been in Africa for the past 2.5 years so her visit is going to be a particularly special time.

As always - we'd love to hear from you!!