Attention!

I've been struck by how many items have the name Corona.

Four Crowns

I'll spare you the mental list I've been drumming up at 3 a.m.  A crown/corona is something that surrounds, halo like. These four items are a simple representation of the coronas competing for my attention on a daily basis.  The oil represents cooking and household duties, the pineapple represents food and is included simply because we eat it everyday, my silver crown ring I've worn for years as a sweet reminder that I wear a princess crown because my Father is The King and, the obvious, COVID-19 (Corona Virus).  If there were some form of a crown to represent homeschooling, that would be pictured as well ... perhaps in this representation, I should have used a picture of Corona, the alcoholic beverage! ... Oh for the love, seriously, the substance has never crossed my lips!

The question Father is asking me this week is plain and simple ... What Crown/Corona is getting the majority of my attention?  If the Ring was the chosen attention getter, it would indicate my ability to  "Cast all my care on Him for He is caring for me."  ... Sadly, the Oil has not received much of my attention as I grumble and complain because things are never put back where they belong, this bathroom smells atrocious and could this floor possibly look any dirtier? ... The Pina, is getting a lot of my attention, and would indicate the obsession and the feeling that I need to stockpile and plan a months worth of grocery shopping for the home front and ministry ... If the covid-19 is getting the majority of my attention, I would be living in fear and completely neglecting the aforementioned crowns.  As I testified last blog, I am social distancing from fear.  That's not to say I haven't been enticed by it's flattery to partake in the depths of it's unknown.  Anxiety levels have been high but God's grace has been higher!  

I was reminded today in a message from Adam's teacher ... 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of fear but rather a spirit of of power, love and sound mind (self-discipline).  Could this possibly say ... "For I will not give obsessive, compulsive attention to the corona virus but rather I will give attention to The Ring, The Pina and The Oil" ... Of course He's chuckling, can you see Him? He is the One who has given me this creative, imaginative mind and HE is the One who has told me that "I speak with wisdom and faithful instruction is on my tongue" ... Hear my heart, the challenge is to give attention where attention is due. 

Aligning my crowns ... Listening for His voice ... Where is my attention? 

Life on the Mountain

Doing our best to stay home ... quarantined with 12 other people behind the big black gate ... Joseph got his cast off ... school work checked off ... puzzles, irritable attitudes, games, short tempers, movies, unkind words, walks and learning how to give complete attention the most important Corona. This is what life is made of ...

Praises

Joseph's arm is healing and no surgery needed

Friday afternoon came and school assignments were all checked off

We are healthy

God ordained conversation with our neighbors, He loves them SO much and He is touching their hearts

Our residency paperwork was submitted before things began closing

Prayers

Continue to pray for a miracle in our neighbors marriage, there have been attempts to bring healing

Wisdom on how much to interact with outside

To know a balance in how to spend our time

Maintaining routine when we're out of routine 

To teach these little neighbor boys Jesus' love and that it would spread to their families

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 ... Giving attention to The Crown

What to do with left over ice cream? ...
Make brownies and invite the neighbors!

Yes we did! ... We made a homemade mask ...
We needed bigger rubber bands to avoid having Monkey ears! 

No, we're not robbing the hospital ...
Just taking precautionary measures! 

The moment of liberty ...
No more excuses for dish duty!



Hard at work ... He is doing an amazing job and being very disciplined to get his work done!

If only all the work was this easy ... 

"Mama, how much more homework do I have?"

Yes it's green, yes it's a smoothie,
NO it's not for children's consumption! : ) ...
Trying a new detox strategy for joint stiffness!

Phys Ed warm up exercises ... the fun is yet to come!
Baby shark do do do do do do ...

Quarantine breakfast of champions ...
When everyone sleeps in on Saturday morning,
Mama makes tortillas! 

It feels a bit like Christmas ... Wish we had more puzzles!

Fried chicken, candle light and a quiet house ...
Thanks again Liz, Manu and Declan for inviting the boys over!

Sunday night family night ...
Awaiting snacks and The Chosen episode #1 ...
Dinner and a movie

Diving In

YEAH, no school for a month! 

I like water.  My fondest memories are of floating lazily down the river in a tube, spending the afternoon in my parents pool on a raft by Peg's side as the sun's rays baked our youthful skin, sitting at ocean's edge as it's waves come and go moving my body in motion with them, Snorkeling on our honeymoon, euphorically resting in the hot springs as the minerals fed my deprived body, perched on my Daddy's back jumping waves that would have swallowed me up without his strength ... Being refreshed by it's coolness, calmed and soothed by it's bath like temperature and suppressing elated screams due to it's icy cold dousing.  In contrary to what you may think, I don't like diving in!  I don't like water where I can't see the bottom, when I can't see where my feet are treading, nor do I like deep ocean and being in boats where I can't see what lurks in the deep depths beneath me.  Child of the 70's that I am, JAWS has put the fear of God in me when in said habitat. 

Diving in ... Wednesday, I dove head first into the media.  Up to this point, I had received all my information on Corona Virus by perusing the trustworthy, reliable, news source facebook, from our very informed neighbors and through the boys MH school chat. It's not that I don't want to be informed, by all means, I want to know what's happening with this pandemic hysteria and be prepared.  As we turned the news on (dove in), the first statement was "First death reported in CR due to Corona Virus".  All of a sudden, I had a sense that fear was taking root, (JAWS was lurking below the dark surface).  Our eyes and ears glued to the news, (I thought I saw a fin).  The fear was growing.  "Mom, I'm starting to get a little worried about this CV." (Jaws open ready to swallow us whole) And with that statement, it was time to get out of the water.  As I breathlessly swam to shore, dragging my mighty men in tow, and ran for the sweet comfort of my hiding place, this is what Father bathed me with ... Be strong and very courageous, be careful to obey all the laws (quarantine, hand washing, no useless going out), for I the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go ... Before you call, I will answer, while you are still speaking I will hear ... even as you swim through the murky waters of media. 

This isn't a word to be uninformed, to avoid the media due to the fear it invokes.  No, it's a call to my soul to look to Jesus and not be overwhelmed by the murky waters of media.  To be so intimately connected with Father by bathing in His life-giving word that I know where to swim when media's Jaws tempt fear to arise. To have the assurance that I can dive below the surface knowledge I am floating on, and simply trust The Creator of the deep ... even with the knowledge that JAWS could be lurking. 

Social distancing from fear ... Soul set on solid ground ... He is my life raft

Life on the Mountain
We are safe, healthy and quarantined as best we can on the mountain in Costa Rica.  Monday the president issued a State of Emergency, schools, universities and unnecessary businesses were to shut down.  The week consisted of ... stocking up on food and necessities before the SOE was issued ... A work day at the base ... An overwhelming start to home school with Jedi and Adam ... A 2 hour visit with friends to regroup and refocus ... Getting fingerprinted ... Girlfriend video chat ... Watching home videos of Micah as a toddler ... A stay at home date night because Declan invited his 'home boys' over to hang out : ) ... Sunday morning Brunch and fellowship with our Casa VidaNet family and ... Refocusing our focus on The Creator of the deep and trusting His provision in the deep waters. 

Praise
We are learning how to carry one another's burdens
Feeling cared for by friends who desire to share life behind the big black gate
Time to intimately connect with neighbors
We feel covered by His wings in this time of uncertainty
Dad and Micah understand and know how to teach Math!
A date night to share out hearts and laugh together
Our residency paperwork is extended until May 17th, we don't need to leave the country!

Prayer
Pray for our 6 Vida220 teams on outreach throughout Central America, pray for their encouragement during this time of quarantine
Pray for unity in our leadership team as we're in 3 different countries
Pray for wisdom and patience as I guide Jedi and Adam through their school work
EMM retreat is canceled due to travel issues ... this is a huge disappointment for all of us.
Would you join us in social distancing from fear of the deep unknown? 

Helping Mama get the job done ...
look how strong we are! 

Happy 14th spiritual birthday Micah ...
Celebrating Joy!

Three amigos ... Endless play ...
Of course they like the same team! 

English class ... Repeat after me ... 

Art class ...
The gift of sharing the responsibility of parenting! 

Twins ...
"Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito"

Home school distraction ...
He's much happier living outside!

Responding to Why

Why do you need a "real" haircut? ...
Because it's cool!

"I have a question ..."  Daily, seemingly every minute in my warped way of reasoning, I find myself being asked a question.  Sometimes before a greeting is even offered.  I often respond, "I'm fine, thank you, how was your day?" before answering said question.  When I do answer, it is typically followed by "why?" If I don't have a quick answer to the 'why' it turns into a frustrated "Because" or ... "I already answered that question everyday this week!" or ... "Didn't we already talk about this, why are you asking this again?" ..." When the only answer they want to hear is YES, a NO is cause of the aforementioned, 'why'.  Wouldn't it be amazingly awesome to ALWAYS have a wise answer that is full of grace and seasoned with salt to challenge the hearer in a loving way that makes them stop asking why after every No answer? 

One morning as I was sitting in the corner of my hiding place, feasting on "The Banqueting Table" and pondering this question, I thought I heard a mans voice talking inside Abuelita's house.  I didn't recognize the voice and was confused because it was early in the morning!  As I turned my head to listen, I realized it was the neighbors talking and their voices were bouncing (echoing) off the corner of the house where I was sitting!  As I continued to read from Colossians, something sticky had been in my Bible and stuck the pages together causing some of the words to be pulled off the page.  As I was trying to decipher what it said, I realized the words were transferred to a blank spot on the opposite page.  As I silently asked, "Father? ... How? ... In spite of my humanness, how can I respond with a wise answer full of grace and seasoned with salt?"

This is what He said ... Colossians 4:2-6 1. Devote yourself to prayer ... 2. Proclaim the mystery of Christ clearly ... 3. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders ... 4. Make the most of every opportunity ... 5. Let you conversation be always full of grace ... The words echoing off the wall, the words reflected on the opposite page ... It's about reflecting ME, echoing My heart to the world I am sending you to ... Even when they ask you "whats for dinner? what are we doing tonight? when can I get a haircut?  is anyone coming over?  are we going to the base?  can I have a snack? can I go to Estephani's house?"  The same questions every single day, all week long.  These five challenges my friends, are the fragrance of the hiding place!   To make the most of EVERY opportunity to reflect the presence and echo the heart of The One who has given me the breath to do so.  Even if ... (can you see the twinkle in His mischievous eyes?) school is canceled and we're quarantined 24/7 in the house together.

Echoing His words ... Reflecting His love ... In need of His grace!

Life on the Mountain
Sunshine and beautiful blue skies ... A week of change due to things being canceled ... Time for much needed heart to hearts ... Attempted to get fingerprinted, needing to schedule an appointment, grace given, grace received ... Celebrating the joy of new life, sharing knowledge He imparted for a job that I absolutely love and the miracle of birth! ... A few hours to scrapbook ... Giving a fresh prayer/anointing covering over our house ... time for Date with Dad night ... Dinner and catching up with dear friends ... Arriving to Saturday and realizing things canceled, we have time to be creative at home and time for a cafecito to hear her heart ... Last minute sleepover ... Looking for His reflection, listening to His echo and attempting to answer full of grace!

Praise
Nelson's mother is responding positively to antibiotics
The birth of their sweet daughter couldn't have been more perfect!
 **thank you all for praying for this dear couple**
Unity, communication and grace in our marriage
Confidence and trust with our neighbors
Lost gate control was found quickly!

Prayer
EMM retreat in Guatemala in 3 weeks ... pray for Father's grace to handle the disappointment if it's canceled.
To be in tune with ways to serve each other
Our neighbors marriage, please pray for healing and restoration
Pray for Adam as he continues to adjust to all day school ... little things can turn into big things pretty quickly!
For our boys to make every effort to do what leads to peace
To answer full of grace, to reflect Fathers heart, to be wise in the way we act toward outsiders, to make the most of every opportunity

"The page"

How NOT to avoid the Coronavirus! 

"This eye doesn't sleep when the others do!"

Diggers, dirt and water ... Necessities in a little boys world!

First Vida220 school in Honduras! ...
God is faithful, God is good! 

Sweet baby snuggles ... enveloped in a world of pink! 

Showing off her new hat!

Practicing "Show and Tell" about his 5 senses

1/2 hour of quiet ... : )
No questions to answer! 

Homemade play dough ...
"Seasoned with salt"

Cleaning with Cloro

Soaked in Cloro ... Sparkling white!

I'm afraid of Clorox.  Its power to remove is comparable only to One thing.  Quite frankly, my history with said product, has been the cause of my fear ... I removed something that I was not intending to remove, color.  It's been a love-hate relationship if you will.  I love the smell, the fragrance alone makes me feel clean, like all the germs that threaten to invade my immune system have just been slain with no hope of return!  I love the inviting smell after a day when Rosario has cleaned our house.   As I enter the 'throne room' after cleaning day, I gather my clothing close and avoid touching any fiber of them on the throne upon which I sit knowing she's given said throne a good dousing and scrubbing with this heavenly scent.  It's cleaning properties are desirable, however when I've attempted to gain it as a confidant, I feel like I should be donning one of those heavy lead aprons one needs when entering an x-ray room!

Little boys soccer jerseys.  Whomever chose white for said jerseys must certainly NOT have their own mighty young men to wear them.  Why, why, why would anyone choose a partially white jersey for young warriors whose favorite habitat, without question, is dirt?  I don't claim expertise in this area but having raised four of my own, I can attest to the following ... Testosterone clad humanity love and live to bulldoze through dirt, roll in grass, would rather wipe their hands on said white shirt than wash them and valiantly sacrifice their bright white through the death defying feat of diving to save a goal from being scored.  And thus my dilemma ... Getting the whites, white again.  I've felt like an incapable mom as these jerseys have continued to emerge from the washer, stained and almost as dirty as they went in.  I've asked Tica advice, "you have to use this soap ... you have to scrub, soak, scrub, then wash ... this special soap is the only one I use ..."  I've heard it all, done it all and nothing seemed to be working.  I resigned myself to the fact that our mighty young soccer players were doomed to a life of dirty white soccer jerseys.  Last Saturday I was coveting Santi's crisp white jersey and after lunch I found joy in Mati's spaghetti stained jersey! ... What are these other two Mama's who live behind the big black gate with me using as their secret weapon?  I decided to swallow my pride one more time and ask Nellie.  With a twinkle in her eye, like she was sharing some ancient family secret she said ... "I soak them in a bit of ... (that dastardly solution) ... Cloro before I wash them."  I was shocked and couldn't understand how the 'blue' didn't make it's exit with said stains I battle weekly!  However, with determination, I gathered my resolve and walked boldly into battle to join forces with this ancient enemy ... Next week, my Mighty Men would join ranks with their Latin compatriots graced with the whitest jerseys this side of the mountain!

Ya'll know where I'm going with this ... I didn't just spend the last hour agonizing over white jerseys.  This thought provoking battle emerged from a life giving word from The Word ... Mark 9:3 (And there He was transfigured before them) His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.  With the quickening in my spirit, I began to ponder the physical battle I've taken upon myself and what Father wanted to teach me through this 'in the world' example ... What stains is He wanting to bleach out of my soul (rejection, fear of man, pride, worry, my plans for tomorrow ... )?  Can I willingly dive into this bleach solution without fear that He would remove more than the stain (stability, comfort, security, routine ...)?  As I tentatively shook off that heavy lead apron and invited His bleaching, I felt the warmth of His spirit and found myself wanting to run unabashed through waterfalls of this Holy Bleach I once reckoned as an atrocity.  Care to join me as we splash through the bleach?

New Mercies ... His cleansing blood ... Soul sparkling white

Life on the Mountain

Two day Staff retreat to regroup together and be challenged to persevere through the challenges ... Two parent meetings at school, two nights in a row is two too many! ... Sharing communion and serving each other by washing feet.  I don't desire this process until I find myself weeping as I wash and realize why Father instructed us to do this ... Tossing and turning all night, standing and waiting ALL day (7:50-2:45) in the lines at immigration ... Rejoicing in Father's Favor as our paperwork for residency is submitted AND we don't have to leave the country every three months anymore!!! ... The younger two got a ride to school in Fernando's cool truck because we left early for immigration ... Games with The Millers ... Saturday family outing to a movie and pizza ... Sunday morning connecting our hearts with our Pastor couple who know us, love us and understand the challenges life can bring.  And, smelling/feeling the cleansing warmth of His holy bleach ... 

Praises

-Fernando, our landlord/lawyer/friend/confidant and Alexandra his dear wife/paralegal/friend/confidant who worked until 10:00 pm the night before, getting everything in order for our residency process!  We have been blessed more than anyone will ever know by their dedicated work, wisdom, patience and endless answering of our questions.  God knew who we needed to walk us through this process!

-Joseph adjusting to his broken arm and no pain this week

-Christian Teachers who love our boys and persevere through long meetings with griping parents 

-Friends who live close and can carpool to co-op

Prayers

-Ears that listen and hear what Father asks us to do, change and let go of

-Ears that listen and hear what our boys are saying even when they don't use words

-Another trip to immigration to submit the few small things we need to complete, this line is shorter

-Healing for Declan, he broke his collar bone : ( 

-Nelson and Shar, serving with Vida Global in Honduras, his mother is dying without a miracle, Shar is 39 weeks pregnant with their first little girl.

-Vida220 Honduras starting TODAY!!  God is SO good, we have 12 participants starting at this second ministry base. 

-To love as Jesus asks us to love and not based on our feelings

Adam shared books with Declan ...
Declan shared a dino mask with Adam!  

No, Adam did NOT hurt his arm, he was trying to show Declan how to wear his sling!

Yup, big boy, that's how you wear it! 

Family seating for 45 please ...
Connecting after we "Retreated"

How beautiful are the feet of them that bring good news ...
The gift of sharing communion and serving each other by washing each others feet

Water marks or tear stains ... each a gift to give and receive! 

It was time ... 

8 inches later ...
Micah can now add cutting hair to his repertoire
of "qualities in a good husband" ...
He cut off the pony tail and evened out the bottom ...
I layered the rest ...
These mighty men do almost anything for their Mama!

The night before immigration ... 

The lines at immigration ... easily 200+ people!

Occupying our time while waiting at immigration ... 

Relaxing after a day at immigration ...
She's a winner at "Makin' Bacon"

He is to be called an oak of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of HIS splendor!
Looking for letters ...
Soaking in the word by Holy Spirit osmosis! 

Through His Eyes

Recharging with friends and ice cream!

Can you imagine a vast army surrounding you? You're in the heat of battle, the enemy is advancing on every side, as you glance around with physical eyes it seems all hope is lost.  Even so, there is a peace that settles deep in your soul and there's a knowing ...  "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  These last two weeks I've had this thought constantly on my mind.  I'm sure I read it somewhere which planted the seed to ask Father to open my eyes to see "Those who are with us."

I get this image of heavenly hosts forming circles around me, with superhero stance they thwart off the enemy's attack of self doubt and anxious thought, they lift me over a deep ravine of fear waiting to swallow me, they put a guard on my mouth to speak words of life rather than words that destroy, they whisper wisdom in my ear and encourage me to speak with authority to those who are in my care, they dry the tears of desperation that threaten to ruin my day, they are that gut instinct to know what to do in a situation that is beyond my scope of practice, they tuck me in at night with the soft melody as they sing peace over my restless soul, they rejoice with me as a new hope is rising in the depths of his soul, they speak with wisdom and faithful instruction is on their tongue so that I know just what to do when uncertainty surrounds me ... they sort, repack and move boxes, build porches, tables, stairs, library shelves, hoop buildings, they rescue me with a set of keys when mine are locked inside, they write necessary legal documents that I have no understanding of, they gently wrap a broken bone with assurance it will heal quickly, they affirm my calling with 'do whatever it takes to make this process happen', they share their heart and tears with me over lost hopes and dreams and celebrate Father's goodness in the next breath, they clean my floors and bathrooms and make me laugh when stress paints like make-up on my face, they take me out to dinner at the end of a long full week and they remind me to keep my focus on Him, The One who unlatches my spiritual eyes to see "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

It's easy to have a deep peace and 'see' this when things go according to plan.  However, when it doesn't, can I still hold fast to this truth?  When it doesn't, does it mean those who are with them are winning?  On the contrary, this knowing, trusting and believing needs to come daily by faith (eyes to believe when I don't see it).  It's not about building up a reserve ... you know, 7 good years of sweet fellowship with 'those with us' so that we're ready to stand boldly during the 7 destitute years when it seems those with them are more ...  It needs to be a daily knowing, believing and being washed in His mercies that are new every morning even when it doesn't feel like things are going according to the plan.  I would like to say otherwise, but I've not mastered this yet.  My vision still gets obscured by the grey clouds of  "why did this have to happen and what am I going to do with this." However, in those hiding place moments ... He sweetly whispers to my soul things similar to the list compiled above, then He turns me, broad shouldered, to boldly face 'the world' and with a pat on my back side, He opens my eyes to see that vast army standing with us.

Seeing through His eyes ... We are more than them ... Do you rest in this peace?

Praises
Wisdom from Father when we don't have answers
Positive changes in the way we communicate as hubby and wifey
Marriage classes at church confirm and challenge us to keep doing and change
Learning how to do Family devotions with a 10 year age span
Excellent medical care
Doctor friends who share their wisdom
Friends and confidants to help us with residency paperwork
Positive changes in our neighbors marriage, please keep praying!
Each one of YOU who are more with us than those with them!

Prayers
Quick healing for Joseph's broken arm
Parenting Jedidiah
Acceptance of our paperwork as we submit it for residency this week
Friendship to deepen and grow between J & J
Neighbors marriage, for his heart to desire deeper communication and work through their differences
Vida220 Honduras base training starting this month
Parenting 4 different personalities
For us to see through HIS eyes and know those who are with us are more!

Life on the Mountain
A lot of activity in these two weeks ... Normal days work and the unexpected thrown in there to keep life exciting, isn't that what life with Father is all about? ... A few work teams blessed us with blood, sweat and lots of hard work ... El Nido has a neatly organized, new home at Casa VidaNet thanks to this work team ... Heart to hearts with neighbors, there's always extra minutes in our day and life because of these ... A week of intensive Perspectives training for 30 Central Am. pastors, Father open their eyes to see Your desire for Missions ... Ice cream with friends and school routine to keep us grounded ... Feeling encouraged by the vast army that surrounds us, THANK YOU for standing with us!

My Baby ... Adam's graduation from Prepa to First Grade  

 

Adam entertaining Declan or Declan entertaining Adam ...
Adam gets to be a big brother ... These two are best buddies

Work Projects from the work team ... 

El Nido donations ... this is a dream come true! 

New patio adding to the peace of these rocking chairs ...

Some of "Those who are with us"

Ruined for the ordinary ...
COKE with Coffee ...
It's delicious! 

Helping mom get the job done so we can go home! 

"Mom, you shouldn't lift this, I'll carry it!"

Drinking his ice cream out of his cone ...
He ordered a side of M&M's to go with this : ) 

*Warning, this blog has more photos of Joseph than he thinks is necessary ... 
Ultimate Football came to an unwanted end ...
Broken arm, cast for a month, off in time to swim at El Tule in April!

Soccer Saturday is the best with these three amigos! ...
They would spend every waking moment together if they could ...
The joy of sharing life behind the big black gate!

Playing Rook with one hand ...
Adam graciously shared his card holder!

Showering ... Tucking into bed ...
"Mom, I'm 15, I can do things myself!"

When you need to take it easy and rest ...
Reading books to Declan is the perfect way to do so!

"I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God."
Acts 20:24 (msg)