Exploring Otis Perkins Spit

Last Saturday, we went and explored another new beach.  Such beauty to be found on this island!  We've been living on the island for almost 4 months; and we are still in AWE of the places we go, the things that we see, and the people we meet.  I don't think we'll ever get tired of exploring God's Creation.

  

  

  

Life On The Island ...

I came up with a new acronym:  LOTL for Life On The Island.  There are things that we just laugh at because life is somewhat different here.  (No offense ... we LOVE it .. it's just so CUTE and QUAINT ...)

I was looking in the phone book today and noticed a few interesting addresses for island businesses.


Lopez Island Community Church ...  address:  "Lopez Island".  Of course!

Lopez Island Electric Company ... address:  "Lopez Island".

Lopez Island Family Resource Center ... address:  "Lopez Island".

Lopez Lodge ... address:  "Lopez Island".

Lopez Center Church Workshop (whatever that is?) ...  address:  "Lopez Island".


Some, however, got a bit more descriptive ...


Lopez Island Medical Clinic ...  address:  "Lopez Island Village".

Lopez Island Soda Fountain ...  address:  "Inside Lopez Island Pharmacy, Lopez Island".

Lopez Village Market ... address:  "Lopez Village, Lopez Island".

Lopez Acupuncture ... address:  "Lopez Plaza, Lopez Island".


Some of our businesses do actually have regular addresses listed in the phone book.  And, it is pretty easy to find these businesses ...


Lopez Island School (yes ... there is only one ... K-12) ... address:  86 School Rd.  Of course the school would be on School Road!

Lopez Island Pharmacy ... address:  157 Village Rd. ... Where's that?  In the middle of the village, of course.

Lopez Island Creamery ... address:  3185 Fisherman Bay Rd.  Where's that?  On Fisherman Bay, of course.

Lopez Island Mechanical ... address:  423 Center Rd.  Where's that?  Obviously it's the road that goes down the center of the island.  Of course!


Mackaye Harbor Inn ...  address:  Mackaye Harbor Beach Road.  Which is, obviously, on Mackaye Harbor Beach.


Did you notice something else?  We have a LOT of businesses who's names are "Lopez Island ______".  There is no need to be creative with names, if there is only one such business on the island.


When there is only one Market, obviously it can be the Lopez Island Market.

When there is only one acupuncture business, obviously it can be Lopez Island Acupuncture.

When there is only one creamery, obviously it can be the Lopez Island Creamery.

Now, of course, Mackaye Harbor Inn had to come up with their own name, because there are several Bed & Breakfasts on the island.  They have to compete with the Lopez Island Resort.


Just another LOTL tidbit ... I heard that the island only got real addresses just a few years ago.  Seriously.  Homes and businesses didn't have addresses.  Everyone just knew who everyone was, and where to find them.  Can you imagine the job of the mailman ... or the police and firemen?  Scary!

Broken Dreams ... Broken Promises ...

Last week we were rejoicing in  Young Love  ... and the new and exciting relationships that 3 of our young adults are walking through.

This week ...

Dreams have been shattered.

Promises have been broken.

Hearts have been torn apart.

Tears have been shed.

Prayers have been spoken.

While we are rejoicing with Cassie, Carissa, and Josh who's lives are bursting with new hopes and dreams; we are crying with Jeremiah, who's heart has been broken.  After spending a week here with us at Christmas, and then spending a week with Ruth's family, Jeremiah and Ruth were planning a July wedding.  We were all so excited.  Our first ... Big Fat Greek Wedding!!!  

Six weeks later, we are picking up the pieces of the shattered dreams.  None of us understand what happened.  We are all left to wonder, "Why?"

Please pray for Jeremiah, as he tries to pull his life back together.  We've never seen him so torn apart ... so shattered.  We know that the Lord will heal and restore, but that doesn't take away the pain ... of today.

The Joy of Taxes

Have you done your taxes yet?

Have you started?

Do you do your own taxes?

Or hire an accountant?

Just curious ...

I do our taxes ... even for all of our home businesses.  I've done our taxes for 26 years.  (The first year of marriage we used an accountant, and he laughed at us when he added up all 8 (yes ... eight) of our W-2 forms from part-time jobs ... and they equalled $8,000.)  Yes ... we made a whopping $8,000 in our first year of marriage.  (Did I ever tell you that we donated plasma twice a week to pay for our wedding?)  Nice guy.  Didn't charge us for his services.  He felt so sorry for us.

Anyway ... I use Turbo-Tax ... have since we got our first little home computer back in the mid-90's.

I'm a stats person.  (Oh ... yea ... you know all about my blog stats.)  So, I LOVE all of the cool graphs and charts that Turbo Tax has for me ... comparing this year with last year, etc...

Well ... let's just say that this year's income doesn't compare too favorably to last year's income.  In 2008, Jim worked full-time as a teacher for the full year; while I worked 30-35 hours per week as a school Program Director for the first 8 months of the year.  We did pretty well.  Mind you ... "pretty well", for us, is a bit different that "pretty well" for the majority of Americans.  But ... we were comfortable.  Not over the $100,000 mark ... but definitely comfortable.

I lost my job in August 2008, and haven't worked outside of the home since that time.  Yippee!  Thank you Jesus!  Then, in August 2009, Jim quit his secure teaching job as we stepped out in faith and moved to our little island so that Jim could pastor our little church.

Jim still had his full-time teaching job for 8 of the 12 months of 2009.  But, you'd never guess it from the charts and graphs on Turbo Tax.

So, what do those nice little charts and graphs tell me this year?  I totally had to laugh at this one ...

I just completed my tax return for this year and the last page before actually filing the return is titled "Expert Recommendations for You".  I would think that their "Expert Recommendation" for us might be that we need to make a little more money.  But, no, that's not what it said.

This bright green graph popped up.  It was titled, "$40,107 Less Than Last Year".  Really?  Oh my!  The funny thing, though was the little paragraph next to the graph.  It told me ...

"Your lower income actually has a few advantages.  

For one, your overall taxes will be lower."  

Really? You've got to be kidding?  How nice of the government, that they aren't going to tax me on last year's higher income.  Too funny!

It went on to tell me ...

Look After Your Retirement

"If you're tempted to dip into those retirement accounts, 

consider these things first.  You're probably looking at 

a withdrawal penalty for using the money early.  

Then, the IRS is going to tax your withdrawal.  

If you have to use your retirement funds, 

use them sparingly, and pay the money back 

when you can."

So, the nice little software gremlins determined that since we can't possibly live on our new, lower salary (even though we are so lucky that we don't have to pay as much in taxes), that we must have dipped into our retirement fund.  Obviously, with all of the kids that we claim on our taxes, we aren't quite ready to actually retire.  The problem ... we don't have a retirement account.  Nope.  Don't know anything about those 401K things.  Little gremlin wasted his breath on warning me about the penalty for taking money out of my retirement funds ... that I don't have.

Oh my ... I just found a new little check box to check.  It said,

"Show me how I compare to U.S. averages."

More fun ... up ahead ... I can't wait ...

Well ... I am actually pretty surprised by the comparison chart.  Even though I know that we now fall under the "Poverty Guidelines", I don't feel the least bit "poor".  The stats tell a slightly different story ...

Our Salaries and Wages plus our Self-Employment Business is  $29,000 LESS THAN the U.S. Average.  Oh my!  

But ... our Charitable Contributions are 75% MORE THAN the U.S. Average.  Thank you Jesus!

Seriously, folks, I did NOT share any of this to make you feel sorry for us.  Nope.  Not at all.  I shared it because I want to shout it from the roof tops that ...

Jesus Is Our Provider!

God is Faithful!

He will Always Provide for Our Needs!

He has Blessed Us Abundantly!

We stepped out in FAITH,

and Our Lord has been FAITHFUL!

My God is AMAZING!

I don't have a CLUE how we've done it ... 

but WE haven't done it ... 

we trusted HIM to do it ... 

and He did.

Thank You Jesus!!!

Seriously ... I'm a little in shock tonight.  While I have known that the Lord has provided miraculously for us ... it's crazy when you see it in black and white.

The Lord has sustained us through the difficulty (and expense) of living between 2 homes.

The Lord has provided for ALL of our ferry rides (sometimes more than $300 per month).

The Lord provided for me to take 7 of the children on a month-long 7,333 mile Road Trip last fall.  We even had the cash we needed to pay for the unexpected trailer repairs after our tire exploded.

The Lord provided for our family Road Trip to California in July for my great-uncle's 100th Birthday Party.

The Lord gave us "extra" so that we could support Carissa in Argentina.

The Lord gave us "extra" so that we could help 2 of our Big Kids buy cars last month.  (We are a 10 car family now ... with only 6 drivers.  Kinda weird ... I know.)

The Lord gave us "extra" so that we could loan money to several Big Kids when they needed it.  (Big Kids ... don't forget that $4,500 that you still owe us.)

The Lord provided so that we could pay cash for the new furnace that we had to buy for our "other house" this week.  (Can you believe it?  The furnace completely died right when we need to sell the house.)

The Lord has protected us, and we have only had two small medical bills since we lost our health insurance last summer.

Every time our bank account has gotten low ... the Lord has provided another painting job, or a special gift ... right when we needed it.

God is Good!!!

But God ...

The Lord blessed me with another "Adopted Big Kid" through this wonderful world of blogging.  Bianca is actually the one that adopted me.  (smile)  She decided that I needed a 14th child.


Anyway, Bianca wrote a blog post yesterday about Jumbo.  Yes ... Jumbo the elephant.  She said, in part ...

History says Jumbo was tethered to a 12-inch stake from the moment he could walk. The one-foot stake kept him in a certain position and disabled him to leave. Every time he tried to walk away, he couldn't. As the years passed and his size and strength increased, Jumbo believe that the 12-inch stake would not let him leave. Yes, the elephant who could lift trees from their roots was tethered to a 12-inch stake. He couldn't walk away.

I have a 12-inch stake in my life too. Since I was a child I was conditioned to believe I would have to accept a certain condition in my life. For years I would try to get away, but I felt trapped. I couldn't walk away.

As I heard Jumbo's story, my heart broke because I was believing the same illusion he was.

We have to stop believing the illusion that our problems or circumstances or childhood experiences have the power to keep us trapped. Through a divine power not of ourselves,we can pull up the stake which holds us down and move forward. We must walk away.

As I pondered Bianca's story, I thought of all of the times that Christ has pulled out the stakes in my life ... the 12" stakes that could have kept me tethered to them ... the 12" stakes made up of lies from the enemy ... lies that said, "You can't  _______ ."



... doctors said I would never have children. The Lord threw that stake away and blessed me with 13.

... statistics said that my marriage would fail, since both my husband's mom and my mom have each been married 2 or 3 times. The Lord threw that stake out and we have been blessed with 27 years together already.

... church friends called a meeting and said that we could NEVER support a large family (when we had just 6 kids ) on a teacher's salary. The Lord threw that stake out, and He has always provided for our every need.

... society said we were too poor to afford to adopt children from Africa. The Lord threw that stake out and sent us a messenger with a check for $15,000.

... my family said I was a failure because I was a college drop out. The Lord threw that stake out when a public school district hired me to create and direct a school (with no teacher certificate or college degree). The Lord blessed our school abundantly.

When the doctor's said, "No kids." I said, "But God."

When statistics said, "You're doomed for divorce." I said, "But God."

When church friends said, "You'll never support a large family on a teacher's salary." I said, "But God."

When society said, "You can't afford to adopt." I said, "But God."

When my family said, "You can't be successful and happy without a college degree." I said, "But God."


IF we really believe that God did all that His Word says that He did ... why don't we believe that He can pull out all of the stakes that the enemy has used to tie us down?

What stakes are holding you back?  

What fears?  

What lies from the enemy?  

When you hear the words or thoughts, "You can't _________", 

I encourage you to respond, "But God."  

Yes! 

He has the power to say, "You can ___________"  ...  

and He has the power to make it happen.

HIT ... By A Semi-Truck

"He will command his angels concerning you to guard 

you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, 

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Luke 4:10

December 31, 1998

Jim was in Southern California, to watch the WSU Cougars play in the Rose Bowl.  So, I decided to take the 8 kids and head up north to visit friends for the long weekend.

I got a late start; so we ended up in the Seattle area during rush hour ... on New Year's Eve.  Everyone seemed to have gotten off work early, to head to their parties.  It was 4:00 pm, and I still had a 2 hour drive ahead of me.  But, by the looks of it, it was probably going to take at least 3 more hours.  Traffic was heavy.  Looks like we might not be there in time for dinner.

Suddenly ... all 4 lanes of traffic stopped.  I slammed on my brakes just in time.  My BIG VAN came to a stop just inches from the little sports car in front of us.  Whew!  

Then ... before I could even catch my breath, I heard the most horrifying sound I had ever heard ... and felt the most powerful force I had ever felt.  

As my head whipped back against my headrest, I heard metal against metal ... I heard my 8 children screaming ... I felt my van being pushed with such force ... my leg was pushing on the brake as hard as I could ...

I looked in the rearview mirror and all I could see was the grill of a semi-truck smashed into the back of my van.  I cried out to God, "Oh God ... we've been hit by a semi."  (as if He didn't already know)  Yet ... my calling out to God seemed to bring peace to the van.  The children quieted down.  

We all looked around.  We were in the middle lane.  Traffic was now moving all around us.  No one was stopping.  We just sat there.  I didn't know what to do.  Finally, the cars in the right lane stopped so that both my van and the semi truck could get off of the freeway, onto the right shoulder.

I looked around.  I asked the kids if they were okay.  There wasn't any blood.  There didn't seem to be any broken bones.  Were we really okay?

I got out.  The semi driver got out.  I didn't own a cell phone.  I asked the semi driver if I could use his phone to call the police.  The police came.  Ambulances came.  After checking everyone out, the ambulances left.  No one had to go to the hospital.

I used the semi truck driver's cell phone to call our friends ... and tell them we'd "be a little late".  

We got back in the van ... and continued our trip north.  We were all in shock.  We didn't know how seriously hurt we really were.  (Neck injuries often don't show up for a day or two.)  We went and visited our friends for a few days.  By day #3, I was in a LOT of pain, but still had the loooooong drive home (in the snow).  So. Not. Fun.

Now ... you may be asking ... 

"Where were the angels?"  

"Why did God allow you to get hurt?"  

"Why do you call this a Miracle Story?"

Where are the miracles here?  All over this story.

Seconds before we were hit, Gregg - age 13 (who was sitting in the front passenger seat) had been riding with his legs up on the dashboard.  Our doctor later told us that if he had not just put his legs down, that he would have, most likely, been killed instantly because his spine would have snapped.  MIRACLE!

What happened to the little sports car that was "inches in front of us"?  And, how about all of the other cars that we could have plowed into?  That's where the angels come in.  There is NO WAY that we could have NOT hit that little car, unless there were angels in between us, separating us.  In a second flat, traffic opened up and that little sports car pulled away, completely unaware that they were inches from being run over by our BIG van.  MIRACLE!

Our van was driveable?  MIRACLE

(a witness told the police that the semi hit us going almost full speed ... the driver hit his brakes right before he plowed into us)

No broken bones or blood?  MIRACLE

We arrived home from our trip on Sunday afternoon, and Jim arrived home from California on Sunday night.  On Monday ... we spent 6 hours at the chiropractor's office.  The next day we went to our Family Physician.  In the next 5 weeks ... we had 105 doctor's appointments:  Family Physician, Chiropractor, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy.  Yes ... we had some serious injuries.  But ...

Just 3 weeks later ... at the EXACT same time of day (4:04 pm) ... at almost the same place ... on the exact same freeway ... there was another accident.  This time ... a semi-truck hit a mini-van.  And ... this time, there was a semi-truck in front of the mini-van. This time ...  there was a heroic rescue attempt (which did rescue 2 people).  But ... this time ... 6 people perished in a fire.  

Yes ... it was a MIRACLE that we did not die, when we were hit by the semi-truck.  

I tried not to complain about my 105 doctor's appointments.  I was so glad that I didn't have to visit the cemetery.

Thank you LORD ... for your ANGELS of protection.

A sweet Bloggy Friend (and Real Life Friend) and her family were just hit head-on this past weekend.  So scary!  Thanking Jesus that He protected them, as well.  You can read Kristen's story HERE.

Prayer ... Across the Country

I had one of the neatest, most unexpected, prayer times last week ...

Back on February 12th, I wrote a post about how God Healed My Cancer and actually restored my full thyroid function 15 years after the complete removal of my thyroid.  A day or two later I got an email from a woman who's blog I read regularly.  While I read her blog, and comment quite often, I didn't know if she was a regular reader of my blog.  But ... she read my posts on Miracles, and she wrote to me about a friend of hers who has been praying for restoration of her thyroid function, after the removal of her thyroid due to cancer.

Sweet Bloggy Friend wrote to me to ask ... if I would not only pray for this woman, but if I would pray for her over the phone, during a Prayer Meeting at Sweet Bloggy Friend's house.  Yes.  Of course.  I would LOVE to.

Last Thursday, I spent the day on Orcas Island with my girlfriend.  So, these precious ladies waited until I got home at 7:00 pm (which happened to be 10:00 pm at their house across the country) to call me.  Sweet Bloggy Friend introduced herself and then put me on Speaker Phone.  All of the ladies said, "Hi."

I was able to share with them some of my thoughts on prayer and healing.  I was able to pray for this dear woman who needs her thyroid to be restored.  And, I was able to share a little more of the Miracle Stories that define our family.

I don't know if this woman was healed.  I don't know if this woman will be healed.  I do know that God can heal her ... if He so chooses.  I do know that I am called to pray ... in FAITH ... regardless of the outcome.  I do know that I was BLESSED to be asked; and I pray that the women were also blessed by our time of prayer.

Thank you Sweet Bloggy Friend ... for allowing me to be a part of your Prayer Meeting ... across the country ... in a different time zone ... on speaker phone.  Thank you.

Must Be Interesting ...

I was surprised to notice that I had had a LOT of blog visitors today ... a nice surprise, though.

So, I thought I'd pop on over and look at my Blog Stats.  (Something I don't do very often.)  It was pretty interesting tonight ...

While my overall total hits for the day were very high, I discovered that one person has been perusing my website for the past 2 hours and 13 minutes.  They have visited about 70 separate pages from the archives.  But ... they haven't left a single comment.  So sad!

I hope you have enjoyed your reading this evening.  I'd love to hear from you.  Was there anything in particular that you were looking for?

A Boy ...

...  and His Stick.

A week ago, while at the beach, 

I wrote a new Proverb for Mamas ...

If thou taketh a young man to a beach,

He will undoubtedly find himself a stick,

With which he will do whatever he pleases,

Whether silly or serious,

Whether harmless or perilous.

Thou wilt not try to understand,

The unequaled attraction,

Between a Boy and His Stick.

How Old is Too Old ???

Here is the 2nd blog post that I read this week ... that really HIT me ... one where my comment turned into its own blog post ... one where I felt passionate about my response.

One of my dear Bloggy Friends writes a weekly post called Tuesday Topic.  This is where she posts a blog readers' question ... collects answers ... and then posts the answers a week or so later.  This week's question is "How Old is Too Old?"

Here is the question that one of her readers asked ...

My only hesitation on waiting to adopt again is that I’m getting old! I’ll be 42 soon, and although that’s not ancient, I realize that the day will come when it just isn’t fair to a child to be adopted by senior parents. I’d love to have a discussion (from both those who have adopted and those who haven’t) about when is too old to adopt/what age child! I wrestle with this everyday and hope this factor doesn’t make me jump into adoption prematurely.


As I went to write my comment, I was surprised at how passionate I found myself.  I wasn't able to copy and paste my response, as Lisa doesn't post the comments for a week or so.  But ... here are a few of my passionate thoughts on the matter ...


First of all ... this woman is feeling old, and she's not even 42 yet?!  How sad!  What makes me mad is that society has determined that we must start and stop our child-bearing when we are still young and beautiful. Society says, "If you are over 35 your child may have birth defects."  Society says, "I can hardly wait until I have an empty-nest, so that I can do what I want to do."  Society says that 42 year olds should have teenagers, not toddlers.  BUT ... what do you think the LORD has to say about all of this???


Why would the Lord allow women to physically bear children until they are 45-50, if He really wanted them to stop at 30-35???  He wouldn't.  Unless a woman has some serious medical issues, I do not see any reason that she should think she is "too old" to have more children, unless her body has decided it is too old to have more children.


When I was just 36, I began to hear the voices of society.  I began to think that I was "too old" to have more children.  (Mind you ... I already had 8 bio. children, and most people thought we had "too many" regardless of my age.)  That very year, the Lord brought 2 new friends into my life.  Both women were 46.  Both women were pregnant (one with her 6th and the other with her 10th).  Suddenly, I didn't feel so old.  I went on to have 2 more bio. children; the last being born the day before I turned 40.


At 40, I didn't think, "I'm too old."  No ... I thought, "Maybe 10 is enough."  A few years later ... after MANY silent debates with the Lord about whether or not 10 was enough ... the Lord impressed it upon our hearts that it was time to adopt.  Since we hadn't had any children in the past 5 years, we decided to adopt 3 at a time.  Now ... since we had already done the "baby thing" 10 times, we didn't have a great need to adopt an infant.  And, since we had already been parents for 23 years, we decided that it might be best to adopt older than our youngest.  This was NOT because we were "too old" ... it was just the practical reason that we were ready to be done with diaper bags and baby bottles after 23 years.


As I wrote my response to this blog post, I also found myself very passionate about something that I don't think I've ever really talked about or blogged about ... growing up with an older parent.  My Daddy was 40 when he got married.  Then, he had 3 children.  My Daddy had grey hair before I was in kindergarten.  But ... guess what ... it NEVER mattered.  I NEVER wished that I had a younger daddy.  Even though my elementary school friends thought that I was with my grandpa when they ran into us at the store ... it didn't matter.  I didn't care.  My Daddy loved me and provided for me ... and that's all that mattered.


I don't understand the statement, "it just isn't fair to a child to be adopted by senior parents".  What!!??  I'm not angry with this woman ... I'm really not.  I don't even know who she is.  No.  I'm mad at Satan for the LIES that he makes us believe.  Society says that children need young, beautiful, cool moms.  No!!!  Children needs moms.  Period.  


There are so many children in this world that just need a mama to love them ... to hold them ... to protect them ... to provide for them ...  Do you think that an adopted child really cares whether their new mommy has long blonde hair, or short grey hair?  Do you really think that it matters to an adopted child whether mommy wears size 5 low-rise, straight leg jeans, or size 20 denim skirts?  Do you think it matters to an adopted child whether mom can go for a 20 mile bike ride with them, or just a walk around the block?  No. No. No.  They just want ... a Mommy to love them.


I had my first bio. baby when I was 22.  I had my 10th bio. baby when I was 40.  I gave both babies (and all 8 babies in-between) ALL of my love ... my protection ... my energy ... my passion ... my heart. Do you think my first baby had it better because I was "young and cute"?  Or did my last baby have it better because there was more of me to snuggle?  (smile)  Did my first baby have it better because he had me all to himself ... for a mere 14 months?  Or, did my last baby have it better because he had 9 big sisters and brothers to love him, too?  Did my first baby have it better because I had more time for him?  Or, did my last baby have it better because I had more money for him?  No!  ALL of my babies got ALL of me (the part left over after God and my husband, of course).  No one had it better ... they all got my BEST ... the very BEST that I had to give.


Now ... all that said ... do I think a 65 year old should adopt a baby?  Probably not.  But ... don't limit God.  Don't limit His plan for you just because of what society says.  Don't limit the possibilities that He might have for your life.  


At 40 are you "old"?  Oh. My. No.  At 50 are you "old"?  Not in my thinking.  At 60 are you "old"?  Heck no ... you could live another 30 years or more.  (Remember ... we went to California last summer for my great-uncles 100th birthday party.)


When my Daddy got married at 40 and had his first baby at 41, he never thought that he would live to see a grandchild born.  Now ... 50 years later ... he is BLESSED by the lives of his 16 grandchildren.  And, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he were still around to hold a few of his great-grandchildren.  I'm so glad that my Daddy didn't think ... at age 41 ... "I'm too old to be a daddy."  At 91, he's still the very BEST Daddy that I could ever ask for.

Young Love

Sweet Daughter Cassie has a new man in her life.  Read all about her Coffee Date with The Rockstar ... HERE.  We can't wait to meet him!!!  Woo Hoo!!!   The Rockstar is flying out from Minnesota to "meet the family".   Do you think we'll scare him off?  Hope not.  (Rockstar's Mama and I have been getting to know each other through emails.  Very fun!)


Josh and Hannah are now officially "more than best friends".  (They waited a very long time for the okay from Papa and Mama ... only because Hannah is still in high school.)  We love you, Hannah!!!

Carissa and Marcelo just moved into the "special friends" category.  (After waiting 8 months for "permission" from Carissa's YWAM Director in Argentina.)  Guess we'd better learn to speak Spanish so that we can talk to Marcelo on Skype.  Praying for you two!!!

Please Lord ... I pray that you will guide ... and protect ... and direct each of these young couple as they navigate their new relationships.  Help them to focus on YOU ... and YOUR will for their lives.  Help them to stay PURE in their thoughts and actions.  I pray that you will BLESS each of these relationships, and that you will help them to seek your very BEST for each other.  Thank you Lord ... for each of these precious young adults that are seeking YOUR wisdom for their lives and for their future marriage partners.

Flying the Coop

Do you ever read blog posts that touch a soft spot for you?  Blog posts that you find your "comment" to be a post in and of itself?  I, actually, read two of those yesterday.  I'll share one now, and the other tomorrow.


I just found THIS blog.  The sisters that write this blog are young friends of my eldest daughter, Cassie.  This week's post, however, is written by the girls' mom.  While I have never met this family, I have heard WONDERFUL things about them ... and hope to meet them on one of our Oregon trips.  They are a TERRIFIC family that LOVES the Lord with all of their hearts, and the parents truly seek the Lord as they lead their children towards adulthood.  However ... the parenting answers they are looking for, aren't always easy.


Here are excerpts from this precious Mama's post ...


"My post has to do with trusting the Lord completely.  Such a hard one for me, especially when it comes to my kids:  Why I think I know better or can help them or love them better than God is beyond me ... but, based on my actions, this is what I think.


Lashae ... is CALLED to the mission field ... not in 4 years after college ... not when I get around to thinking it is a good plan or idea, but NOW!  Her words:  "I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know how to pay for it, I don't know what all the details are, I just know that I love Jesus more than anything and I want to tell other people about Him too."


Well, I can reason this away and I have 100 different ways ... (but) it never sits well with her.  She wants to go and do it now and she wants to do NOTHING else.  She does not want a backup plan, she does not want to put it off, she wants to go now ... she says she does not have all the answers, she just wants to go because the Lord has told her to go and He will provide all the answers.


O.K. this is where it is hard for a mom, especially of a 17 year old girl ... who will probably be a valedictorian of her class and has amazing brains and potential in whatever SHE wants to do in her young life.  I reason, why would God call her, when she has so much potential in so many areas?  But here is what I've come to realize; when Lashae is standing before the Lord someday and He asks her why she was NOT obedient to Him - she can not say, "Well, my mom thought ... or Lord I had so many opportunities for college and a wonderful education."  She will be accountable for herself and I don't want to get in the way of that.  ...


As a mom, my job is to PRAY, PRAY, guide, press in and know the Lord and His voice for myself, ask the Lord for direction for her, and for me, and for the Lord to give me peace and TRUST HIM with my girl.  He loves her more than I do and He will take much better care of her than I EVER EVER EVER could.  He created her and knows her heart; I just get the privilege of being her mom and learning as much as I can about her."

This mama has had to ask some hard questions of the Lord ... but he has given her the answer.  She must TRUST His plan, more than she trusts her plan.

Here is an excerpt from my comment to her post ...

Sounds like your 17 year old will be the first to "fly the coop", and Mama Hen is not quite sure she is ready to let her fly.  Well ... I have 6 chicks that have already "flown the coop"; so I've "been there, done that" a few times.

While I would LOVE it if all 13 of my children stayed close to home.  (We could buy 100 acres and all live happily ever after together.)  That is NOT what the Lord has called them to.  As their Mama, I don't want to get in the way of the Lord's work in their lives. 

Just last year ... I had a 22 year old son living in Amman, Jordan ... a 20 year old daughter ministering in India and Bangladesh ... and a 20 year old daughter living in Argentina.  So, when my kids fly the coop ... they fly FAR away from home.  Yes, I miss them ... but I am soooo.... excited for what the LORD is doing in and through each of their lives.  I don't even cry any more when my kids fly off around the world; I'm just too excited for them.

I also must comment on the "who will probably be a valedictorian of her class and has amazing brains and potential in whatever she wants to do in her young life.  I reason, why would God call her when she has so much potential in so many areas?"

I am sure that you didn't mean to imply this ... but it could be taken as "only dumb people with less potential should waste their lives on the mission field."  No ... God needs the best of the best, to do His will, whatever that may be.

Why am I so passionate about this?  I was "the girl with the potential".  I was the girl with the 140+ I.Q.  I was the girl that my parents had high hopes for.  I was the girl that disappointed her family ... because I was the girl that only wanted to follow Jesus, and do His will.  God didn't call me to be a doctor.  God didn't call me to even finish college.  No.  God didn't even call me to the humble yet godly position of a missionary.  No.  God called me to be a Mama of Many.  And ... I am the black sheep of the family because of it.

While all of my extended relatives were teachers, principals, superintendents and college professors ... I am "just a housewife".  When I had 6 children under 6 years old, one of my relatives asked, "When are you going to finish college?"  Huh?!!  "In my spare time, of course."

I am a Mama of 13 children ... and I don't want to be anything else when I grow up.  I have taught my children at home for the past 20 years ... and I have at least 10 years left (with my 2 youngest only being in 2nd grade).  I don't believe that I have, in any way, wasted the gifts that the Lord gave me. I am doing exactly what He has called me to do with my gifts.

My husband and I don't care what career our children choose.  Seriously. We. Do. Not. Care.  ALL we want and pray for is that each and every one of our children will love and serve the Lord.  Nothing ... is more important than that.  If #2 son becomes President of the United States, I won't be more proud of him than #4 son who wants to be a professional photographer.  Nope. Doesn't Matter.  I am not any more proud of my daughter that is a missionary in Argentina, than my daughter that is a nanny.  Nope. Doesn't Matter.  As long as my children are loving and serving the Lord ... doesn't matter.
 
I know that a LOT of young mamas read my blog.  I know that a LOT of you spend time thinking about "what will my children be when they grow up?"  I want to encourage you to allow God to answer that question, and encourage your children to seek His answer for that question.  As this mama (in the above post) says, "PRAY ... and TRUST ..."  that is the best parenting advice that any of us "more experienced" mamas can give.

Blessed By A Friend

I had the most WONDERFUL day yesterday!!!

One of my new Island Friends gave me a gift certificate for my birthday last month.  This gift certificate was for a bookstore.  A bookstore on another island.  An island I had not been to since I was a little girl.

The gift certificate came with an invitation to spend a day with my Sweet Friend ... shopping at the bookstore ... eating out for lunch ... and exploring this other island.

Oh my!  What a fun day we had!!!

We caught the 9:55 a.m. "inter-island" ferry ... to Orcas Island.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day ... clear blue sky ... views in every direction.  I hadn't ridden on an inter-island ferry yet ... a much smaller boat, that transports the Islanders between each of the 4 main islands.

The boat stopped first at Shaw Island.  Sweet Friend told me about the Nuns that live on Shaw Island.    After we watched a couple of cars exit the ferry, we saw a few passengers walk on.  Right there in front of the line was one of the nuns ... in her full black & white Habit.

After we arrived at Orcas, we drove 1/2 way around the island to East Sound ... the main village on the island.  We spent an hour or so perusing the bookstore, and we each took home a few books.  Then, off to find the Mexican Restaurant that had been highly recommended to us.  It did NOT disappoint!  We had a very delicious lunch and then shared a Chocolate Flan.  Yummm!!!

After filling our bellies, we visited a little "antique shop" ... or "junk shop" as the case may be.  We laughed at all of the crazy things to be found in this shop ...  children's cowboy hats ... children's sombreros ... scrapbooking paper ... old suitcases ... antique washboards for doing laundry ... books ... jewelry ... a barrel full of bottle caps ...   I did, however, find a couple of cookbooks for a dollar or two each, that I scooped up to bring home.

Then, we thought it was time for a bit of exercise.  We drove to the State Park, and made our way up the long and windy road up Mt. Constitution.  Oh my!  What a view!  I was KICKING myself for not taking my camera.  So sad.  We hiked up a short trail to the top of the mountain, and then we climbed the stairs to the top of the Observation tower.  Wow!  Wow!  Wow!

Laid out in front of me was all of Whatcom County, where our old house is.  I could see our favorite beach on Lummi Island ... and our next favorite beach at Birch Bay.  I could see Bellingham Bay, where we went out on a friend's boat a few years ago.  I could see White Rock ... a cute little town up in Canada that Papa and I have explored.  I could see all of the Canadian mountains where the Winter Olympics are taking place right now.  I could see Mount Baker ... my kid's favorite snowboarding mountain.  I would see the Olympic Mountains on the Washington State Peninsula.  And ... I could see Mt. Rainier ... over 200 miles to the South of us.  Spectacular!  I sooo.... wished that I had my camera, and my tele-photo lense.

But ... since I didn't bring my camera ... I borrowed some pics from THIS website ...

After our little hike up Mt. Constitution, Sweet Friend and I headed down the windy road.  Then, we continued our drive around the island to the very tiny village of Olga.  We stopped for a bit, and visited a very nice Artist's Market & Cafe.  No. We weren't hungry ... we just enjoyed looking at all of the quality art work done by local artists.

Back to the Ferry Dock we headed.  After putting our car in line, we wandered through this little village.  We saw some adorable children's clothing, but I was a bit surprised by one of the price tags ... $500 for a cute little girl's coat (probably size 2 or 3).  Nope.  No matter how cute ... I just couldn't spend $500 on a jacket that would be outgrown in a few months.  (For that matter ... I couldn't spent $500 on a coat that I was going to wear for the next 10 years.)

Off to the market, to buy a deli sandwich and chips to share on our ferry ride home.

What a FUN day ... 

with a SPECIAL new friend.  

Thank you LORD!!!

Oh My Aching Back!

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given 
for the common good.  To one there is given through the 
Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of 
knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith 
by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one 
Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, 
to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking 
in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the 
interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one 
and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, 
just as he determines."

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Who is this "Spirit" that is spoken of 

in the above passage of Scripture?

Have you ever studied the Holy Spirit?

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit

is still working through people today?

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit

gives such gifts to the Lord's People, today?

I do.

Years ago, we had a friend that was powerfully used by the Holy Spirit in many of the above gifts.  Mrs. O went to our church.  She was known as one of the "prayer warriors".  If you needed prayer, it was a good thing to talk to Mrs. O about it.  

One time, in the midst of a dark trial, Mrs. O came up to me at church and said, "What's going on, Laurel?  The Lord has put you on my heart all week; so I've been praying for you."  I didn't have to say a word to Mrs. O.  The Lord told her when I needed prayer.  Thank you Mrs. O.

Another time, we felt like we were under heavy spiritual attack.  We called Mr. & Mrs. O.  They came right over to pray for us.  We weren't especially close friends.  We didn't socialize all the time.  But ... we knew we could count on Mr. & Mrs. O when we had a need.  (hmmmm ... maybe we should call on Mr. & Mrs. O to pray us through the spiritual battle we are in right now?  we moved away 10 years ago, but I'm sure that they are still "prayer warriors".)

This next story took place at Mr. & Mrs. O's house ... during our church's Monthly Prayer Meeting.

1993


We had been praying for about an hour and a half, when Mrs. O looked at Jim and said, "Do you need prayer?"  "Yes," he answered, humbly.  Jim had been suffering with several ailments, and he was currently in a lot of pain not only from a hernia, but from a herniated disc in his back.  The hernia surgeon couldn't do surgery until after Jim's hay fever season (because he could rupture the stitches with his daily sneezing).  And the back surgeon was still contemplating the best treatment for the herniated disc.  We knew that both situations would need surgery, but neither were scheduled yet.


Mrs. O asked Jim to sit on a chair in the middle of the circle.  Mrs. O got out some Anointing Oil.

"They ... anointed many sick people 
with oil and healed them"

Mark 6:13

Everyone gathered around, placed their hands on Jim, and prayed.

"Paul went into see him and, after prayer, 

placed his hands on him and healed him."

Acts 28:8

There was no immediate response.  Jim didn't talk about it when we left.  I didn't know that anything had taken place.  But ... a few days later ... Jim said that his back didn't hurt anymore.

We returned to the back surgeon.  Jim's back had been miraculously healed.  He has never had any problems with his back again.  

Praising the Holy Spirit ...

and thanking Him for giving

the gift of healing to Mrs. O.

And, the hernia???  No, that one wasn't healed miraculously.  Jim had to allow a Christian surgeon to bring healing for his hernia, after hay fever season.  Sometimes the Lord heals miraculously through prayer; while other times the Lord uses the gifted hands of a surgeon.  Either way ... Jim was healed.  Thank you Lord!