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| The beauty of fall in Lancaster Co. |
It's been months since I've been able to hear. I mean really hear. In preparation for this home leave I have had this anxious longing for Sunday, October 27th. At night, I would slip into my dreamworld giddily contemplating the luxury of said date. When my days were full of activity, my mind would drift longingly of the anticipated 'day after arriving'. I've had the absurd notion that when I awoke on that date, the world would suddenly stop. I would be at rest, the dust would settle, and I could hear His voice clearly again. The picture in the recesses of my mind was one of leisurely lounging on the couch in a sun filled room with the colors of fall peeking through my windows tempting me to indulge in the freshness of their beauty. The house is filled with joyful banter between the family, there is puzzle action going on and although it's not quiet, I can peacefully contemplate my next thought. The 'need to do' has been shoved out of mind, the scent of peppermint mocha wafts lazily under my nose, there is a book in hand and ... I hear Him speaking again! With this momentous calendar date come and gone, I've began to recon with reality that this picture in my minds eye was simply that ... a vision of longing for the later of the 3 R's.
Someone likened our home leave to that of being on Tour! Even in the midst of the necessity of that "Tour Schedule", this is what refreshment and rest looks like ... Mark 3:14 (He appointed twelve, designating them apostles ...)
That they might BE with Him
(and that He might send them out to preach ...) I am quite certain He has called me to rest. However, to completely fill my insatiable desire for rest, He has called me to simply BE with Him. As I choose obedience to just be ... There is a sweet peace, as he holds me close while I lounge between His shoulders ... my heart feels lighter as I'm enveloped by the richness of His sweet fragrance ... and, there is a giddy anticipation as He calls me to come away and BE with Him!
Settled in ... Learning the habit of rest ... Being with Him
Life in Lancaster Co.
Feeling the comfort of sleeping on our 'old' mattress under our 'old' comforter as we wearily crawled into it's downy abyss at 2:00 a.m. ... Walmart can literally be a one stop shopping experience that unfortunately lasted 3 hours ... Stopping at Glenwood Foods for "just a few things" ... Feeling the warmth of Hugging many of you at our drop-in ... Reconnecting and sharing God's call on our lives with Akron COB ... Bike rides, long board trips down the road, exploring through field and forest, golf cart laughter, brothers who love to explore together and longed for Lancaster Co cuisine ... Feeling the blessing of being cared for by family and friends ... Reconnecting, regrouping, being refreshed and resting ... Can you feel HIS presence as you take time to just BE with Him?
Praise
*A HUGE praise we received before leaving CR: Thank you for praying for our friends marriage, they are miraculously making positive changes and he's willing to go to counseling!
*Safe, uneventful travel
*Micah has work "down on the farm." Right out the front door.
*The Highs, who have graciously given us a haven of rest to call home for these 3 months.
*Hinkletown Menn. School, is allowing Jedi and Adam to take Specials (Art, Music, Phys Ed. and participate in conversational Spanish)
*Digging out stored winter/snow clothing and only having to buy one pair of snow pants
*Experiencing His presence as we take time to rest
Prayer
*Pray for Daryl and Jedi's night away to have "The Talk" (said with raised eye-brow!)
*Pray we can fully experience the Four R's
*Pray for our health and sound sleep
*To be sensitive to HIS plans for this time, knowing when to say yes and no
*Pray for God connections
*Pray for monthly partners so we can be 100% funded for our second term starting in January emm.org/donate
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| Happy 12th birthday Jedidiah ... Donuts for breakfast ... He couldn't even eat a whole one, they're HUGE! |
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| Celebrating Jedidiah and saying See you later to our "Eldest Children" in CR ... |
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| Last day of Prepa ... "Thank you Teacher for helping me learn in school!" |
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| Nos Vemos Costa Rica ... Here we come PA! |
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| This one made a researched and wise decision on how to spend his money ... |
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| This one received birthday money and bought the first one he saw at Walmart : ) |
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| Bigger boys and bigger toys! ... Micah, how can you be big enough to ride Dad's cycle?! |
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| Thankful for friends sharing their outside play toys! He may dress like he's from Costa Rica but he's in the heart of Lancaster Co Fall weather! |
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| Officially official ... Joseph is taller than Mimi! |
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| This is how they spend their days ... Who gets to ride which riding "toy" and Who gets to take mom on the next ride! |
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| Already at work ... The safety of this picture could technically equate to a CR scaffold system ... Especially because Jedidiah is operating the lift! |
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| Feeling confused ... This poster is hanging in the Ephrata library ... |
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| Look Mama, it fits!! The gift of hand-me-down winter coats ... This gem started with an older cousin, lasted through 3 boys and now fits Adam! |
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| Yes, he is driving and proud of the fact that he can take Dad and Mom on a ride! |
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| In his happy place ... Everywhere he looks there is work to help with! He's found the perfect job, Farm helper! |
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| These jammies made it to the next generation ... They started with the older two! |
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| What can I even say? ... |
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