The Smolder

The chiseled jawline, the sultry stare, the puffed chest stance, attempting to captivate the affection of the prized princess. Their attempt to mimic the roguish good looks of the King of our Castle will always bring eye-rolling laughter to this mama's heart. If you’ve seen it, you know it. This studly stance that is practiced, perfected, and has gained entrance into our family photos has recently given me pause to ponder … Whose attention am I seeking and to whom is my gaze guiding? 
 
In the routine of our morning walk, I realized my hands were clenched, my shoulders tense, and my breathing rapid as I mentally played through the list of needs for today.  Looking down, I was wisely watching where I walked.  Wisdom is avoiding errant doggie deposits that may become entrenched in my tread.  Wisdom is not being overconfident in the stability of my maturing physique lest I trip over thin air.  As the circumstances of the last week reeled through my mind’s eye, I heard the simplicity of HIS gentle prompt … “Look up”! In the seconds it took to register with my soul, I breathed deep and shifted my gaze upward.  The sky was the most intense Robin’s egg blue.  The clouds appeared feathery soft like a downy chick.  The neighbor’s smile was tender and warm, like his greeting. The mango, cas and banana are in the full beauty of their maturing process. The grandeur of the mountains were covered with their hazy blanket of the season. The birds’ mixed melodies seemed to intensify as I simply shifted my gaze, relaxed, and engaged in His presence.  His gentle prompting continued to resonate as I poured coffee for time at my table, ‘Look up’ … ummm and remember to take down that cobweb in the corner! 
 
My gaze has been downcast.  Feeling the weight of pulling all my mental resources to find the solution; needing wisdom for ‘that one’; the strain of relationship as I avert my gaze; the list that grows longer than hours in the day; bartering away my overflowing cup with distractions; and sleep evading my downy abyss due to the suitcase I’ve repacked to drag along for the night.  Stuck in the middle of clenched hands, tense shoulders, perfectly laid plans, my gaze was obscured by the dense haze of “whatifs and whatabouts”.  Look up.  These two simple words floated around me like the comfort of a tropical breeze and changed the direction of my day.  It really is that simple. As I lift up my eyes to the hills and see where my help comes from, His peace permeates, His solutions are savvy, and His restoration is real.  Look up. 

Where is your smolder smiling, your gaze gawking, and your attention attuned?

Life on the Mountain

Who says January – May are quiet months? Life has been full. We returned home to CR from our stateside home leave at the end of February and jumped into normal life ... Sharing life with the Vida Mini guys. Hosting groups and receiving tastes of home. Youth group camp outs and grown-up retreats. Establishing new and different school routines. Wading through tax season. Processing life with our students during mid-outreach break. An unexpected trip to PA to help in my dad’s recovery from emergency open heart surgery. A weekend wedding celebration for one of our ‘daughters. Walking with Micah through leadership decisions. Celebrating Joseph’s college graduation with honors. Jedidiah focusing on the goal of graduation. Adam, missing friends and enjoying new ones. Someone finally learned how to ride motorcycle. Sacred days playing in the waves as a family of six. Celebrating the completion of 5 months of outreach with our students. Preparing, planning, and purchasing for Vida Missions (the 8 weeks of organized chaos that will fill us with joy over the next months!).  Mentoring, discipling, and pointing them to Jesus as we simply, look up.  

Praises

Two weeks sharing life as a family of six.

Micah’s growth in leadership.

Joseph’s college graduation, with highest GPA honors.

Students safe return from outreach.

Healing for Jen’s autoimmune flare.

Unexpected extra time with family.

The beauty of living in a community of believers.

Prayers

Strength and wisdom during Vida Missions.

Wisdom and discernment for Micah leading the students.

Joseph as he enters into finding full time employment.

Jedidiah’s loss of friendships that have moved away.

Adam’s focus in school.

Wisdom for student’s next steps with Vidanet.

To simply shift our gaze and look up.

Some days you just have to enjoy life as a kid!

He's a baby man! They love him and fall asleep in his arms!

Micah getting the bus ready for groups ...
Yes, he drove it through town. Multiple times!

Celebrating Mother's Day with my people.

Awards ceremony ... Highest GPA in his field of study.  

Surprising Joseph at 2:00 a.m.
"Why are you still awake?"

Celebrating Joseph!
CAD Engineering degree from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.



Entertainment all weekend long!

He really is that tall ... well, maybe G'pa is shrinking a little.

Adam proud to be the tallest 11 year old in the family!  

At a month shy of 11 years, he measures taller than his brothers at 12 years!

4 Mighty men together again!

Favorite teacher, favorite CR friends! 

You're never too old to learn something new!  

Rainy work days are the norm on this mountain!

Chalky hands ... practicing his skill of bouldering ...
of course his brother took a picture!

Perfecting their smolder ... 
Flynn's got nothin' on these Mighty men!

I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2