A Night Out I Don't Get

I'm interrupting my anniversary countdown because I was very blessed last night to be able to go to a Ladies Night Out at church. In typical women's ministry manner, the tables were decorated, and everything was done up in a ways that only women can do. There were announcements of upcoming events and a time of worship through song- even a brief time of exercise to burn off calories we consumed in the Fiesta Dip! And, of course, there was a time of teaching and encouragement through the Word.

Besides the message being practically tailor maid for me in my current circumstances, it was so nice just to get out away from the house and the kiddos. My husband graciously made dinner for himself and the kids, and got them to bed on his own.

And I was also able to have my sweet sister-in-law come with me. I haven't had nearly as much opportunity to bond with her as I have with my other sister-in-law. And this was so nice. I told her that we will have to have a monthly standing date together! I am so grateful for Kari being a part of my family, and truly enjoy any time I get to have with her.

I hope the time was encouraging for her too as both of our husbands are out of work, and it is a sometimes stressful time for us and our families and we try to adjust and trust in God's faithfulness in the present and future.

So I am very grateful for a night out that I don't usually get.

Counting Down to 6

In just a matter of weeks my husband and I will be celebrating six years of marriage. Wow!

I think I'll do a little counting of blessings.

Our First Year: Start Date, January 31,2003

In our first year of marriage, we got our first taste of waiting. We waited and waited to see where God would lead us in ministry. While searching for ministry positions on various job boards, Casey worked as an auto detailer, and hated just about every minute of it. I remember one day he came home early because he twisted his knee in a very odd way. That knee has never been the same since.

I worked for Old Navy, and then got a job with Key Bank. I worked both jobs for a while until I was able to be nearly full-time with the bank.

Finally, it came. The ministry we were supposed to go to. Casey was called to be youth pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodland, CA. We visited, and liked what we saw there. We didn't have a clue what we were doing in a lot of ways. I guess you could say we were very green.

Before we celebrated our first year of marriage, we moved, for the first time in either of our lives to another town, another state. But it was New Years Day 2004, when we tried to move. And we didn't make it very far. Snow pummeled the state of Oregon, and I-5 was closed. We had to wait until the next day. But we made it.

We adjusted to life away from family and to a duplex with green carpet. We went to see Big Fish at one of the little theaters in Woodland to celebrate that anniversary.

To Be Published?

A while ago I posted about my husband's paper that was recommended for publication. And we heard back from the publisher, and we were encouraged by his feedback.

Even though I know that there wouldn't really be any money in having a husband as a published author, it's exciting to think that it might happen. Casey put a lot of thought and effort into his 13-week series in Job, and it's neat to think that it might be shared with whoever may choose to buy the book. My hope is that he will have the opportunity to bless people in this way.

That's what I'm thankful for today. My husband was encouraged, and he also has a job interview today. No matter what the outcome of either, these are blessings of grace to get through today.

Maybe

I'll admit that I wasn't really looking forward to the ball dropping and ringing in 2009. The new year meant more unknowns and an extended waiting game. Starting in January, we officially begin tapping into our savings that we have from the sale of our home in Colorado. That money is like sand dripping through a monthly hourglass. (Can you have one of those?) We have to use it to pay for rent, bills and food. A seasonal position with UPS, helped decrease the dent we have to make in savings for January, but we don't know about February... or March... or April.

I didn't want January to come. It meant facing the harsher part of unemployment. So far, we have been somewhat immune to it.

Not anymore.

When my husband lost his job and we had to sell our home and move, we looked at what we made off the sale of our home and were excited that it might allow us to have some significant savings to build on and pursue some dreams for our family. By moving to Oregon, we've significantly cut our cost of living, and that was a potential open door to save even more.

But as we look at 2009, we're not sure when there will be steady income. We're not sure if we will be able to pursue the things that we have wanted to.

Now these thoughts are daunting, and a little disappointing- but not really for those who believe in a sovereign God who always gives us the best. Maybe, having the money to easily adopt is not the best for us. Maybe, living tightly and using our resources very carefully and wisely is needed training in discipline. Maybe seeing the savings account balance diminish is not bad, but good. Maybe God is doing a mighty work preparing us for further good works.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Maybe our Father is training us for deeper faith, greater grace, and higher joy. Maybe that's what 2009 will bring. Maybe if I remember the Sovereign One and believe the promises of the Word, then that's exactly what 2009 will bring.

Christmas is More

Since moving into our new home, the kids an I haven't been able to leave. We're snowed in. Our street is a perfect sledding hill- a thick sheet of ice. So there are things that I can't get done. I still need to get things from our storage unit. We haven't been able to return to my husband's parents' home. So there are things still there that we don't have.



One of the things there is a small Christmas tree. In our storage unit are Christmas decorations and our stockings.



There are eight days until Christmas.

I was a little discouraged as Norah was asking, "Mom, can we make cookies for Santa now?!" And I have to reply, "No. Mommy doesn't have the things I need to make cookies." (We keep telling her that Santa isn't real, but just something fun to pretend. But she just is really into him this year!)

Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, our home is converted into a Chistmasy state and stays that way until the new year. But this year. I have nothing up. There's no tree. There are no Christmas lights (my husband always makes our home look beautiful). There aren't any stockings or nativity scene.

But then I took stock. Christmas is more than tinsel, and lights. It is more than presents under a sparkling Christmas tree and cookies fresh from the oven.

More than 2000 years ago Emmanuel was born. God made flesh was came into a fallen world to save it from the sin it was enslaved by. The babe grew up, sinless and perfect, and willingly gave himself up on a cross. Our Saviour was born to die for those who believe.

That's what makes Christmas.



Side Note: I was able to concoct a Christmas treat from Devil's Food Cake and Chocolate Fudge Frosting. I just baked two 9" round cakes, and mixed about 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract into the frosting to make a Chocolate Peppermint Cake. Norah and I sprinkled Christmas sprinkles on it and powdered sugar ("snow") to look more festive. That was fun and a blessing.

Working

Right now I am sitting at home without my husband in the house. He is out. He is out at work. That hasn't happened in about 3 months. It doesn't pay much, and we can't live on it. And it is temporary, but it is work.

So I'm a little weirded out that my love is out in the world, since I am not used to it. I am blessed to have the opportunity to get used to it, though!

I've been thinking about two words:
Sustained: to give support or relief to, and
Sufficient: enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end.

With the help of Merriam-Webster Online, I have these definitions. A verse and a song keep coming to mind that are weighty with these words:

I Corinthians 12:9,

"...'My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness.'

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Sustained

by Someone I Don't Know

I'm sustained, O Lord.

When your light surrounds me the world goes away.

I'm sustained, O Lord.

My heart knows your love like it flows through my veins.

Such peace and contentment I've found in your grace,

I can't think why I've ever complained.

You love me.

What more could I want?

I'm sustained.

I'm satisfied by your love so completely.

How could I search for the praises of man?

There's nothing I need that you haven't provided.

'Cause no one can offer me peace like You can.

Jesus, your love is enough.

Sufficient for me.

All I have needed, You've given for free.

Your love is enough.

I don't need man's applause.

I know what I'm worth. I remember the cross.

I'm sustained, O Lord.
When your light surrounds me the world goes away.
I'm sustained, O Lord.
My heart knows your love like it flows through my veins.
Such peace and contentment I've found in your grace,
I can't think why I've ever complained.
You love me.
What more could I want?
I'm sustained.

Our family has the distinct privilege of being sustained. We are weak. We don't have answers. But we are being held up by Eternal Father. His grace is enough- an abundance give to us, really! This is a season when we remember the miracle of Christ's birth. We recognize that Christ gave up the glories of heaven to be man, and live a sinless life so that he could take our place on the cross. Such grace, the angels cannot even fathom! We have not had to tap into the equity that we got from the sale of our house in Grand Junction, and prayerfully, we won't have to. But for now, we have just enough to survive. Like the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, we are sustained.

Today, Casey is working. Maybe that will be just enough to survive December. Maybe that's what he will need to get into another job. Maybe.... well, only the Lord knows. We'll just have to wait.

Super Why

This morning I was watching a little of the programming on PBS with my children. On the line-up is Super Why. The show is about four characters that turn into sort of "super heroes" to solve problems. The show is really a great learning tool, introducing children to reading, writing, and letter sounds. It's one that I'm glad my children like.

The plot lines of Super Why are generally the same. We enter Storybook Village with "Wyatt" (who turns into Super Why, with the power to READ!), and we encounter a problem. Wyatt calls all the Super Readers to action to solve the problem. Using a storybook, they find Super Letters to find the answer to the problem.

Before getting into solving mode, the Readers gather together and ask the children viewing, "What do we do when we have a problem? We look in a book!"

It never really dawned on me before- the profundity of that statement- at least for Christians. What do we do when we have a problem? Where do we look for a solution? We look in THE Book. Our own ideas, our own wisdom, our own friends or family don't have the answers. God's Word does.

At a time when we have a lot of things to figure out and decisions to make that will hopefully be the right ones, I know that my husband and I need to depend on the Good Book for the solutions to the problems that face us. It is the only true wisdom that can guide us, and show us truth.

That's the everyday grace I see today. I live in a land that still allows me to own a Bible. I can read the very words of God Most High and know the wisdom that can only come from Him. Let me not forget the value of reading that Book.