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) 

A Spacious Place

There is really no other way to title this blog.  These words alone should bring vivid pictures to ones

To God be the glory, great things He has done! 

mind of just that ... A Spacious Place.  For me, it brings a feeling of freedom.  I feel alive, full of life, giddy and carefree as I cast my face to the sun and a balmy breeze tousles my hair. It's a 'nestled under the Heavens' sort of feeling.  For others, this wide open imaginative picture may bring a feeling of fear, unease, a 'lost in space' feeling.  I'm curious, where is your spacious place? 

On Thursday, Father spoke this life giving word to my spirit from Psalm 18:19 ... "He brought me out into a spacious place and rescued me because He delighted in me."  As I read this verse over and over and meditated on it, He began placing names on my heart of people who needed to know the freedom of a spacious place.  For some it was merely a note of encouragement, for others it was a time of intercession that left my soul crying for the freedom their souls are longing for. 

That afternoon El Nido Mobile went to minister to the women of La Cuenca.  And, He did it again!  As we walked into the community room I was overcome with emotion (me? imagine that!).  The picture in my mind came alive ... He was bringing these women out into this spacious place because He desires to rescue them from their own self doubt and for them to know He delights in them!  This, El Nido Mobile, is a place for them to find life once again.  As one of the team members shared her testimony, this verse tied right in and I'm believing seeds were planted!  As we develop relationships with this new group of women, I am oh so excited to see what Father does! 

El Nido, women's health, pregnant bellies, the miracle of birth, helping women learn to believe that they are delighted in ... these are my spacious places!  Quite honestly, as I go through the mundane of wifeing and mothering, I often loose sight, loose focus, on the life giving, freedom of my spacious places.  However, as He graciously brings me out into these, (a.k.a. shows me to whom and where He wants me to minister), I feel delighted in by The Maker of my spacious places!  

If you do not know the freedom of your spacious place, stop what you're doing, change what you're doing and thank Him for what He's doing.  He has one waiting for you! 

Seeds planted ... He's captivated my soul once again ... He delights in YOU!

Life on the Mountain

Reconnecting with our leadership team, sharing the load, laughing and spurring one another on ... First week of school success, feeling confident in the routine ... Sharing dreams and hopes for El Nido Mobile ... Sharing tears of joy as Mamas see their unborn babes for the first time via a donated ultrasound machine for El Nido ... Micah getting first hand experience on vehicle maintenance ... feeling thankful for a hubby that helps me rearrange and make our house a home ... Action packed movie night to celebrate the end of a full week with our boys ... Celebrating Valentines day, what love the Father has lavished upon us! ... Feeling His delight. 

Praise

Seven healthy heart beats seen via Ultrasound

(video of El Nido Ultrasounds)

 https://www.facebook.com/ElNidoCR/videos/211600023315216/

A ministry that values community time

No tears to start school

Friendships rekindled

Work teams who bless Casa VidaNet with energy and hard work

Knowing His delight

Prayer

Friendship to grow between Joseph and Jedidiah

Our neighbors marriage ... so sad to see them struggling again, they need a miracle, they need Jesus!

To be devoted to one another in brotherly love

Healing for Micah's cold

Future plans for Micah

For our residency process, thankful for our landlord Fernando's help! 

Boldness to walk in our spacious place

Sixth grade class ...
Praying for connections to feed his soul! 

First grade buddies ...
Adam and Fer, "can we please have a play date?" ...
not on the first day of school! 

Gym uniforms, ready for action! 

Father blessed us with this beautiful, light-infused community room in the middle of its dark tin shack surroundings ...
He brought them out into a spacious place!

Sweet baby snuggles ...

This is Us ... never a dull moment! ...
Happy Valentines day to my dream come true!

"He rescues us because He delights in us"

Graced with Grace

One last taste of The States ...
of course it was the
closest restaurant to our gate of departure! 

Transition is exhausting.  Yet again, the emotion of saying good bye, returning to the familiar that still feels different, unpacking the suitcases and treasures, setting up house again, going through the box of  "grow into" clothing because all 4 mighty men seemed to have grown up and/or out during our stay in the States, several hours a day spent preparing stuff for the start of a new school year tomorrow and ... trying to be the adult, patiently walking through the roller coaster of emotions all six of us are going through when I wanted to throw a two year old tantrum!  I teetered through the first two days, grasping tightly to His promises but by day three I was starting to crumble.  On the dawn of day four ... healing tears started flowing.

In Father's goodness, He encouraged me with these simple words from my dear sister ... "Praying that you all can be patient and extravagant grace givers to each other as you adjust and readjust to life in CR."  And just like that, I began to sleep better, my tense shoulders started to relax, mornings in my secret place seemed sweeter and more sacred ... "Grace my child, extended to each other and more importantly, to yourself!" ... Even though we've returned to normal and familiar, it's totally different than what we just lived through the last 3 months.  Her (His) words, were a sweet reminder that we're not walking through this transition and change alone.  We've been eternally blessed with a heavenly armament of prayer warriors, armor bearers, shield upholders and most importantly ... believing we are utterly adored by a King who has established our ways and extends to us His limitless grace. 

Today came the sweet peace of being thankful.  Thank you Father that You have called us, covered us and commissioned us to life in Costa Rica.  Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  Oh sweet Jesus, I have so much to learn from You!

Girded in grace ... Breath in, breath out ... I am living in the goodness of God

Life on the Mountain
Laughter and tears as we received a loud and boisterous welcome home from 30+ of our Casa VidaNet family hooting and hollering as we exited the airport ... Returning to our morning routine, walking, talking occasionally as we go and quiet times ... Buying, labeling and contact papering a mountain of school supplies, 20 books and 15 notebooks ... Mentally preparing Adam for the idea of all day school while he has limitless play with his little buddies ... Daryl has spent a few hours each day in the office and seems to be stepping back into routine ... Jedidiah's talent on the guitar is getting some good practice time ... The consensus at youth group is that Joseph grew 5 inches ... Micah digging into school and ministry tasks and making Mama laugh ... Catching up, sharing tears and laughter with our neighbors ... Reconnecting with home school co-op friends ... Sunshine, soccer Saturday and sunny afternoons for line drying wash ... Hugs and feeling like we never left in Comunidad Nuevo Pacto church ... Settling in, diving in, walking in and resting in Father's limitless grace.

Praises
Easiest travel experience we've ever had through immigration
Fully funded for 3 years of our 4 year term, THANK YOU!!
Friendships picked up where they left off
Jedidiah's love for guitar and his God given talent
A one stop shopping experience for all the school supplies
My shopping sister, Liz
Daryl's sinus' and my back are doing great

Prayers
School starts tomorrow, pray for peace, friends and for bravery
Fully diving into ministry this week
Friendship to grow between Joseph and Jedidiah
Our neighbors marriage ... so sad to see them struggling again, they need a miracle, they need Jesus!
Leadership meeting all day tomorrow, pray for unity, patience and wisdom

It all fit in our trusty Olaf! ...
Feeling the need to settle in for awhile.

School supplies ...
Every single crayon, marker, pencil etc labeled with their name! ...
SO thankful for El Rey where I could buy everything!

Books and notebooks labeled and covered with contact paper!

Dylan visited from Nicaragua for 2 months ...
So thankful they got to spend a day together! 

Happy 10th spiritual birthday Joseph! ...
Of course it was brownies and ice cream!

Jedidiah's hand-me-down green shoes ...
Adam was just as proud to wear them! 

 

Sweet snuggles from Declan on a sunny Saturday afternoon ... 

Declan, just another boy in our boy band ...
He fits right in with these Mighty men! 

Jedidiah's newest treasure ... bought from the one who patiently encouraged his talent!
Music to Mama's ears!

While in PA, Father painted this picture in my mind ...
Upon returning to CR, He gave me a fresh new hiding place ...
It's the sweetest place on earth ...
Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.