Random from the week

Last week was action packed! Sorry, I didn't take many pictures other than a few of Mason (below).

• Birthday: The week started with my birthday on Monday (see previous post).
• Angel Mortal: It was "Angel Mortal" week, which is like a secret angel that blesses you each day with notes and gifts. My angel went above and beyond and blessed me in word as well as financially. He felt like God wanted to use him to show me that God will provide financially during this season and that finances aren't anything that I need to worry about - it was huge! 
• Topic: Our speaker was Nick Gough, speaking on the Holy Spirit. 
• Relationships: Saturday night, I spoke to the DTS girls and some YWAM friends. I shared my story and talked about dating and relationships. It was super fun. It was probably the first time I've shared in front of ~25 people and not been nervous. Ross joined me for the Q&A part - we love doing ministry together and encouraging others. 
• Giving Night: Wednesday night was giving night, which is where you ask God if there is anything you are supposed to give - words of encouragement, money, clothing, personal items. Wow! What a fun night. A few people gave and received guitars. Rings, sweaters, jackets, iPods, shoes, shirts, money and journals were all given. Everyone was blessed because they only gave as God directed them. There were so many stories similar to the following one: Girl A heard God say to give her green sweater to Girl B. Meanwhile, Girl B had given a lot of things away and was asking God to please give her something personal that she loves. Well, Girl A walked up right then with the green sweater, a sweater that Girl B really loved. It was an answer to prayer for her.

We have less than 3 weeks until we leave for Thailand. I'm getting a little nervous for a few reasons:

• Our full tuition hasn't been paid yet - we still have a few thousand dollars outstanding.
• The thought of packing a family of 5 for 2 months in a foreign country with summer clothing is daunting...
• Thinking through a very long plane ride and a few lengthy layovers also has my mind spinning. If anyone has ideas for little ones while on a plane/traveling, please send them my way :-)

Other than all the busyness and preparing for Thailand, we are doing really well. Ross spent most of the weekend hunting - hunting for deer on Saturday and Elk hunting on Sunday. He said they trekked 12 miles tracking the elk, but no luck. He did have a great time with his new hunting buddies though. I had a fun weekend also - a long run, Saturday night talk and then Sunday with a few friends (and the kiddos) going to church, shopping and a baby shower, oh my!

I hope you are all doing well. I'll probably post again this weekend - after Thanksgiving. So, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Mason grabbed the mic in the cafeteria one evening, luckily it wasn't on.

Showing off his overalls and vitamin (on the comb).

Mason and Eliza

Sweetest kisses!

A Wonderful Birthday

Today was my 36th birthday and it was a wonderful day! It started first thing this morning with Selah, Kiera and Mason all coming in to my room to greet me for the day with joyful and loving dispositions, "Happy Birthday" on their lips, hugs in their arms and homemade cards in their hands. My favorite part by far was the joyful and loving dispositions they welcomed me with! AND Selah (who loves to be first), gathered Kiera and Mason - waited for them to wake up, stretch (she said Mason was slow) - and they all came into the room together. What a wonderful present. Unity!

After that at breakfast, the cafeteria full of staff and students sang "Happy Birthday" to me, then my momma and daddy called. Today's lecture was full of prophetic prayer and the prayer over Ross and I confirmed once again that we are right where we are supposed to be. Then a quiet lunch (Eliza took care of the kiddos) followed by a birthday party with 100 Fold Studio staff and a few close girlfriends - Ross made me a yummy cake with my name on top in sprinkles. At the party, a bunch of the girls went in together and got me a snowshoe set - snowshoes, poles and a handy carrying bag, 100 Fold also got me a YWAM Hospitality book (below) that I had been wanting complete with the author signing it for me :-)

THEN - yes, there was more. After outreach prep, Ross was graciously allowed to take the afternoon off from 100 Fold and the five of us went up the mountain to play in the snow and let me try out my new snowshoes. They are AWESOME!

Oh, and did I mention that my door is decorated with balloons, streamers and wrapping paper where friends have paused to write me a birthday note?

 I also have an angel this week that is blessing my socks off! Today is only the first day and I'm already silenced as I watch this generous giving and have been challenged to practice receiving. Today has definitely been a day of practicing receiving.

Thank you to everyone who has texted, sent a facebook message, called, sent a card and/or was part of all the above mentioned festivities. I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I am loved. I love you all too!

Weekly Roundup - 11/11/12

More random pictures for the week. Some are from this week, some are Eliza's (from the past few months). We've had a great week back after Portland. It took me a little while to catch up on my sleep, but now I'm rested and getting back on track again. Our speaker this week talked about Pioneering in Missions - she has pioneered YWAM bases in Nepal and India - Amazing! She was very inspirational and got us thinking about what else God might have for us. This world is so big and so small at the same time and our God loves all the people groups of the world. It is fun that God knows all the different languages, skin colors, customs, people groups and is just waiting for someone to share the good news with those who haven't heard the gospel yet.

Silly boy!

Trying on Eliza's boots

Peek-a-boo

Isn't she beautiful?

Selah playing on the zip line at her school playground

Kiera was creative one day and used stickers to add bling to her outfit

Another funny sleeping position

Playing "train" in the kitchen with Oshea, Mason, Samu and Jenn Smith (100 Fold Intern)

Mason playing with the "fingernails" Nana sent for Halloween. These are a hit!

Selah in her momma's childhood dress, isn't she a doll?

Selah reading!!!

Our kiddos love coloring

Kids relaxing while we were getting new "all-weather" tires. 

Portland

We got to spend a week in Portland with our entire DTS, staff and families. There were 84 of us and we all stayed in the church that Ross and I called home when we lived in Portland. The church where we met, where we worshiped, where we led junior high and high schoolers. It was super fun to be back and remember all the times we shared there. We also had the chance to catch up with and pray for our pastors (Pastor Richard and Pastor Chuck). It was a privilege to stay at New Song Community Church. Thank you Pastor Richard and Pastor Chuck for your hospitality!

While we were in Portland we got to visit with some old friends. Ross even did a quick kitchen redesign for one of the couples :-) Always the architect. The kids liked seeing the Vice family and playing with all their kids, plus we went to the Oregon Museum and Science Institute (like McWane Center), trick-or-treated, went out for hot chocolate with another friend and her kids. It rained a lot, so there was a lot of indoor play, too :)

Here are a few pictures from our week there.

After lunch

Eating lunch outside Columbia store

Mason trying on boots at the Columbia store. He LOVES shoes

Kenadi, Selah, Kyra, Kiera - New Song Sanctuary worship

New Song

Our DTS - last day in Portland

Selah, Kiera, Mason, Ayla and Kai

 

Our sleeping area :-)

Halloween

For Halloween, we were all in Portland, OR for our DTS "mini-outreach" (more about that in a different post). But, we didn't let being in a different city stop us from trick-or-treating, oh no! The kiddos were so excited to don their costumes and run from house to house as long as we would let them. The girls didn't complain about the walking at all and Mason was only carried to speed up the search for candy. It is amazing how far they will walk with the proper incentive. I did a terrible job of taking pictures - waiting until we were already out trick-or-treating in the dark - yes, bad idea. This will give you an idea of what they looked like. By the way, we went with two other families - Truss (age 10) and Cole (age 8) - going to Thailand with us and Eoghan (age 4) and Finn (age 21 months) - our next door dorm neighbors.

Group Picture: Kiera, Selah, Cole, Mason, Truss, Eoghan

Mason the dinosaur / dragon

Selah the posing Pumpkin

Princess Kiera