Treasure Hunting

He is a treasure! 

It may seem irrational and near impossible to give thanks in the midst of hardships and adversity.  However, there's this little grown up voice inside my head that reminds me ... For one who knows the intimacy of Father's love, one knows the blessings that follow from this simple act of obedience ... give thanks.

This week, I'm treasure Hunting.  I'm looking for the little sprigs of color in the barrenness, looking for the blooming bud in the parched soil, looking in the eyes and hearts of those around me to find the treasures Father is planting for me to discover!  Intentionally treasure hunting for Father's love and choosing gratitude in the midst of barrenness, softens my soul and starts to turn the corners of my mouth upward.  A grateful attitude make it easier to communicate with Father and everyone else ... However, why is it so dang hard to consistently practice thankfulness?

You see, no matter what life altering illness, loss, death or hurricane we see in front of us ... there is the most beautiful treasure of Father's presence in the midst of these.  "Give Me thanks regardless of your feelings and I give you joy regardless of your circumstances."  

Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in perfect peace, for You alone O Lord make me dwell in safety. This promise is one I've prayed over my boys, over myself, over anyone who desperately needs to sleep in peace.  What I didn't realize was the treasure that precedes this promise ... verse 7 YOU have filled my heart with greater joy ... for this simple reason I will lie down and sleep in peace!  This treasure of joy comes from a grateful heart. 

He is asking me to give thanks for the treasures I collect during the day and then to reflect on them as I lay my weary mind down to rest ... His end of the bargain, these treasures will blanket me with the coziest, sweetest sleep one could ever imagine.  Want to hunt treasures with me?    

Treasure hunting ... Giving thanks ... Blanketed with peace

 

Life on the Mountain

Traditional thanksgiving meal prep, lots of food shopping;  we are in our last week of educating at home for this year!!!  I can't believe we've been at this since March.  This also indicates I will now have time to grade Joseph's 10th grade work from the last 3 months!  This mental check list and this fog of grief leaves us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed however ... we are hunting for and finding His treasures!

Treasures

Adam being my shopping helper and randomly praying for people!

Jedidiah working at the base 

Joseph's laughter and memes he so freely shares with me

Micah's messages

Roast in the crockpot

Cashier commenting on "the precious picture" of our 4 MM on my cloth bag

Don Jose's friendship and caring attitude while I shop the aisles at Price Smart

Laughter with Staff

Smiles and snuggles from Declan and Kairo

Girl time at the mall

Lost photos recovered

Morning walks and kisses in the kitchen

Answered prayers

Neighbors to share life with ... they see and hear our humanness and love us regardless!

Prayers

Friends throughout Central Am. whose lives have been ravaged by 2 devastating hurricanes. 

Miraculous healing from covid for a dear friend and father figure

Physical, mental, emotional fortitude

Giving ourselves permission to grieve because it's normal, natural and necessary

Future direction for VidaNet

Open communication and time to share our hearts as we meet with VidaNet's board next week

Choosing to be grateful even when we don't feel like it

Sunday afternoon activities ... 
Football and a walk! 

A thankful tree

Thanksgiving prep ...
5 kilos of green beans and a blister to show for the work!  

Breakfast date with dad ... 
This ones smile is a treasure! 

Youth group game night ... they are each a treasure!

Final science project ... electrical connections ...
"Mom, of course it will work, it just has to lift the tree!"
And, of course it did! 

This boys ... he was determined to ride in this car even though he could barely get in and I only needed 2 things!
He was my BIG shopping helper this week! 

Sportin' their new Christmas glasses
Los tres amigos!

They were sent from Honduras to work with VidaNet ...
Now VidaNet is sending them back to Honduras
to help clean up their community.
They lost their house and everything in it.
We love you Antonio y Meli, may your joy from a grateful heart spread throughout your community!

Territory of My Heart

My favorite delivery boy ...

The soil is resting, seeking sabbath, being watered by tears, lying dormant, feeling useless and uncertain of its next steps yet hopeful that the seed buried there will one day sprout to life again. 

January of 2012, I remember it often. I was at a point of sadness so deep, my soul felt saturated with despair.   I grudgingly opened my Bible to Deuteronomy with an annoyed eye-roll thinking - "What life could He possibly speak from this book"?  My disgruntled action of  opening The Word, allowed His sweet presence to pour in through the open door and He began to water my scorched, barren heart ... Father spoke, regarding the territory of my heart.   "I am bringing you into a good land ... " Deut 8:7.   And, the seed of hope began to grow.  I've held onto that promise since then, specifically in times of uncertainty and when my soul was feeling battered ...

but recently, I've needed a reminder.

Over these last several months, despair had settled in my soul again and I felt like the fight in me was gone.  The mere thought of mentioning this despair/lack of fight, felt like a failure for who Father has called me to be and where He has called me to be.  "Put your hope in God ... Trust ... He is your strength ... He will never leave you..."  His promises screamed at my soul in a rescue attempt yet my soul felt like it couldn't even reach out for their life-saving properties.  As the feelings of failure pelted like rain and the waves crashed, my soul was sinking and sadness, was its welcome guest.  

He did not push, He did not discredited my pain.  He has simply been holding, being present, and waiting.  And when He sensed my grasping for life again, He spoke.  "I am with you and am watching over you wherever you go and ... I will bring you back to this land" Genesis 28:15.  And with that, the seed of hope laid deep in the depths is sprouting.

Maybe you need the reminder too?  In this year of seemingly utter chaos, despair and loss, when you feel surrounded by clouds or waves or whatever it is that is obscuring your vision of a good land ... His promise still stands, He desires to bring you into that good land.  It doesn't mean life will be easy, full of joy or merrily dancing through fields of wild flowers.  It simply means that one has hope, He is still on the throne and His promises are still true.  Why don't you ask Him for a glimpse of your promised land ... He can't wait to show it to you! 

He is good.  He desires good.  Bringing good into focus. 

Praise & Prayer

Father's patient love, faithful presence and everlasting arms that have held & carried us these months

Each of you, your prayers have been Father's presence to us

Friends and neighbors who listen to our hearts, invite us to coffee and cry with us

Health and healing

In spite of Covid restrictions, ministry at Casa VidaNet looks a bit different but continues

Central America as it recovers in the wake of hurricane Eta

To infuse our worry filled minds with the peace of Father's presence

Three more weeks of educating at home. God help us to finish well, it's been a very long school year.  

For schools to open next year ... please God!

Times of refreshing, we are weary 

We continue to grieve Delynn's death and the impact its had on the ministry

Help us be real in our grief and lead others to Jesus in our grief

To extend grace to those we spend 24x7 life with ... quarantine and restrictions continue to feel stifling. 

For our hearts to rest, return and remain in the land He has called us to

Life on the Mountain

It seems easiest to do this in photo form ... 

Youth group and Current events "Social Bubble" ...
minus a few.  

MOM, help! ... 
Cousin Jess Weaver to the rescue when
Mom's scissors are oceans away!

Jedidiah's 6th grade graduation pictures ... 
Of course we had to take a few mask free pictures!

Simulation exercise ...
So this is how you practice for an emergency via zoom! 

Father - Son worship team at Casa VidaNet

Joseph had a rough month ...
Four wisdom teeth cut out with local anesthesia ...
And random episodes of Hives lead to allergy testing!
(Below)

A rainy day at the beach ... 

Celebrating life ...
Happy 3rd Declan
Happy 16th Joseph
Happy 13th Jedidiah 
and ... 
Happy BIRTHday sweet baby Kairo!

My heart is full ...
I had the privilege of being part of an amazing team for this precious little ones birth at home! ...
Mama Jen loves you baby Kairo! 

Whoooo is watching me? ...
A visit to Zooave brought some laughter.

Look who's behind the wheel ...
Not yet legal in CR but thankful for friends with long driveways! 

"What I want to be when I grow up ..." 
Celebration of Dia del Nino

Three lost teeth in 10 days ...
 That's what being 7 is all about! 

Two boys baking in the kitchen ...
Our bellies have been filled with delicious treats!

Mohawks, masks & Sunday morning sweet bread ...
Quarantine life!

We miss Micah's presence in our home while he's in the States for his senior year ...
He enjoyed cutting wood at a youth work weekend!  

Date night with Adam ...
Soaking up Dad and Mom's attention and
enjoying the delicacy of Pizza Hut!  


I am still confident of this,
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
Psalm 27:13