THE Seat...

Getting me to this spot, on these keys, has been a week long event.  I knew at the start of the week that I wanted to write something (a lot from the encouragement of my honey to write with intention), but I just didn't have anything making my heart beat enough to spill out of my fingers~until now.  I like to write about a lot of things and hopefully those 'other things' will be blog worthy at some point, but currently it really has to be about my kids...HIS kids.  If you read my last entry you got a little introduction to my Hallie-girl...oh man she lights me up and makes me melt almost simultaneously!  Soon I will introduce you to my Parker-man too, he is literally (it's sappy and corny) my heart walking around outside my body! Today...it's just them...together....making me a mom....giving me an opportunity......and me taking it.

I have said all week that my 'mama-heart' was super tender for no reason that I could pin down.  It occurred to me that all those non-pinable moments are for that very purpose in and of themselves~to be experienced, not to be explained. I am not sure if you have heard of Ann Voskamp, but she is my new best friend (she just may or may not actually know that) she lives in Canada, with her Farmer husband and 6 children and she writes.....amazing spirit inspired words that speak always to the precise non-pinable moments of my own heart.  I recently finished her book "One Thousand Gifts, A dare to life fully right where you are" and it redirected me in a AH-HA moment way!  It's a must if you love words, want to learn how to live Echaristically, or just need a jolt.  She also has a blog called aholyexperience that I would recommend in a knock-down-your-door-tie-you-to-your-computer sort of way!  This week she is writing about her oldest leaving for college and the process of holding tight, letting go, and being brave all at once.  It is so worth your life to read her September 6th, and 11th entries (although all of them are good,these are the ones that ripped me open this week).

It could be that I am for the first time in my mommy-hood, alone at home during school hours that my heart is extra tender in reflection these days.  With my Hallie-girl starting Kindergarten this year it is the first time in 8 years that I get to walk back in the door alone.  I walk into silence, poor a cup of coffee, sit down either in my so comfy chaise or on my patio equipped with a crisp breeze and enjoy uninterrupted completely glorious time alone with my Bible and my Creator (that was the longest run-on sentence of my life, but just go with it).  Can you tell I didn't have a clue what to do with myself??!!!  Oh whoa is me, I know.  Whatever it is, I have sat with my own tenderness this week.  I have soaked up every word read from Ann's blog, or my Bible, and heard words that pierced me from one of my Pastors just yesterday and asked, 'What is it, God, that you want me to experience in this?"  

It's a seat.  THE seat.  God has pulled up a chair that fits no one else but me in the lives of my littles.  I have spent 8 years 'making' things good for them, protecting them, sheltering them from harm or 'bad people' and molding them into tiny little versions of crazy adults.  BUT, have I ever sat in the THE seat?  The seat that says, "I love you deep...even when you mess up" OR "I will cheer you on when you do something that is different than how I would do it" OR "You are worth every bit of fight I have in me to always point you to the Cross"  I think there are LOTS of times that I bumped into the seat and  made a valiant effort of trying to sit down, but I am not sure I have owned it for it's purpose.  Mama's we have a front row seat of INFLUENCE with our kids.  As my Pastor said yesterday, 

"the hardest part of parenting is the part when taking away the TV (behavior modification) is replaced with bruises on your knees (spiritual modification) because of how much you get to beg Jesus to do only what he can do in the lives of your children."  ~Pastor Helen Musik

She was referring to parenting 'Adult Children', but I was hit square in the nose with what she said.  Boy I can behavior modify until I turn purple, but why aren't I bruising my knees??  My littles are 8 and 5; even though I panicked this week about having ONLY 10 more years with my Parker-man (Lord willing), I can start bruising my knees NOW.  Hard work creates callouses, Girls!!  

One of my Hot-Mama friends who is the Queen of her castle of 4 men-in-the-making, said it so sweetly this morning.  I was telling her how I couldn't believe how everything that my heart had been hearing through my Ann-friend and my Pastor Helen-friend this week were so connected and spot on. She said this (well she posted it in response to my facebook post because cool moms talk to each other through postings~ha!) 

"It is Grace that our hearts are so in tune with this while there is still time."  

Wow!  That's it.  We don't have to wait until they are packing for college or even until they start to face 'real world issues' before we sit in the seat! If we do, it could be full of regret and we will beat ourselves up with worry about did we do enough? are they prepared? please just let them be 8 and 5 again!!   WE HAVE NOW!!!! 

'So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.' Colossians 1:9-10

The seat is being saved for you, Mamas!  Own it!  Occupy it!  Sit that pretty little behind in it and REFUSE to give it up!  Be present in letting your eyes soak up what needs to be stored in your heart! We have to stop being consumed with the unimportant tasks and start being intentional with the purpose of a lifetime. We haven't missed our chance to come alongside God in his will for their lives. Something I pray all the time is "Lord, don't let me get in the way of what YOU want to do in Parker/Hallie's lives".  I am so so thankful that my tender, non-pinable heart has direction today with a  new eye-opening, seat-owning, opportunity with my littles.  Here is ONE of my favorite lines from Ann's Sept 6th entry:

'Be brave. In all your crazy, be brave, boys(or girls~added by me). And I’ll be there, in heart or in body, to witness the first dates and the failed dreams and it’s okay to cry, boys, your tears are safe with me.

Because the truth is: Life’s a trial and everyone needs a witness — someone on your front row, someone on your sidelines, someone to clap you across the finish line when everyone else has gone home.

Everyone needs a witness — and I’ll be yours.'  ~Ann Voskamp

Get comfy in The Seat....will you?

He gave me a GIRL

"What in the world just happened?" Is the question I have been asking myself lately.  You see, it's like this; God in his infinite wisdom chose to make me the MOM of two perfectly beautiful children~yay!!  I love being a mom, pj days, popcorn for breakfast days, no rules days, breakfast for dinner days, and my favorite~snuggle in bed days.....and then there are other days.  Like today for example (or any day this week to be honest).  Those days when after you have, only by the grace and protection of God, dropped them off at school dressed, with clean teeth, and at the very least hair that is a step down from the witch hazel look they got up with, that you ask the question, 'WHAT in the WORLD just happened?!"  

Back to the infinite wisdom of God.  He gave me a girl.  I am not sure why HE thought I could handle this, or how He thinks I will emerge after 18 years with all of my sanity (and maybe that's not His plan at all).  Nonetheless, He gave me a girl.  Not just any girl!  Nope because He has unexplained, never to be understood reasoning and knowledge about my level of tolerance that I am not privy to.  This girl is gorgeous with huge brown eyes that daddy shared with her, long eyelashes (also thanks to daddy), a creative imagination that blows me off my feet, and a red-button connection with her CREATOR that this mom stands in awe of...AND  EMOTIONS (which are 150% derived from the genetic swimming pool of her mother).  This being said, I have no idea why He picked me to steward His girl.  Her daddy has a way with her that is like a warm knife cutting through butter.  She ADORES him and the feelings are mutual.  I can watch him talk her into wearing tennis shoes for gym day before she even knows what has happened; while green envious smoke starts shooting from my ears.  Just moments before there was a five star fit with me about combing her hair (I'm not talking about 'let mommy make it adorably cute with curls, and braids, and a big giant bow on top' combing), literally just combing the hair no accessories involved...nope, just a combing.  This five star fit is complete with shaking, screaming, flinging the head back and forth in an effort to give me "hair-combing" target practice; and I still have to tell her she has to brush her teeth....CALGON take me AWAY.  

Somewhere during the combing fit, teeth brushing, and the tennis shoe bliss we are 4 minutes late.  FOUR!  So don't get all, "seriously, Summer it's four minutes" on me.  You know what happens when you are FOUR minutes behind schedule at the exit ramp to school...instead of being number 2 to turn left across two lanes of traffic you are automatically number 4,325!  That's right and then there's the line to wait for the nice police officer who risks his life every morning in crazy school traffic to tell me I can turn into the school.  Said line is now stretching back over the over pass when FOUR minutes earlier I could have been the next in line.  AND don't even get me started on the line that actually leads to the drop off doors of the school....seriously!!  

FOUR minutes earlier she would have already been walking in the doors on her way to her class where she would be putting away her Hello Kitty backpack, sitting nicely at her desk with a coloring page ready to start her day...

BUT

FOUR minutes later, she is walking in the doors on her way to her class where she will be putting away her Hello Kitty book bag and sitting nicely at her desk with a coloring page ready to start her day.

  Well, okay so FOUR minutes doesn't make a hill of beans difference, but the point is to a mom who has had an EMOTIONALLY charged morning..you better believe that it does!  I am sitting in that car in that line wondering how many times I could actually bang my head against a wall before I was out cold, and begging Jesus to teach me how to be her mom because I am clueless.  I can feel tears stinging my eyes (you remember the percentage of emotions my girl got from me don't you) the grip on the steering wheel is getting tighter as I replay all the events of the morning~every last star in the five star fit....and I have labeled yet another morning with this girl as a Mommy-Fail.  She sees my ugly face more than she see my loving one, and she sees selfishness more than she see Jesus shining through her mama sometimes.

And then as we are in the line waiting to approach the doors to her school, you know that one where FOUR minutes didn't really matter.  This gorgeous girl, unfastens her seat belt, leans forward from the back seat with elbows on the armrest, looking at me with those daddy-inspired brown eyes and says "Mommy, I can't wait for tomorrow, it's P.J. day in my class".  

REALLY?  Just like that, when I took the 10+ minutes of driving time from home to school to let my emotions infuriate me more (and just when I was about to give the MOMMY is in charge speech) this girl, the one HE GAVE ME is over it and not only over it, but over it with a heart exploding with the excitement of wearing pj's to school tomorrow!  

Immediately, I have peace.  Peace that Jesus gave her to speak to me.  A permission to "just get over it".  She gave me grace in the way she called me "Mommy" with a sweetness in her voice and the way she wanted to share with me the most exciting thing in her little 5 year old life~It's p.j. day at school tomorrow....

I won't admit that my mind is already orchestrating tomorrow mornings combing event as I try to convince her that wearing PJ's to school doesn't really mean you can also sport the bed-head hair do.  I will admit that asking the question, 'What in the world just happened?' was one of the best ones I could have asked myself.  I still don't know what HE was thinking when He gave me a girl, but he surely knew I needed her.

It's a Gift....and it can be yours.

I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid.  John 14:27 NIV

'There are times when our peace is based upon ignorance, but when we awaken to the facts of life, inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus.  When Our Lord speaks peace, He makes peace; His words are ever "spirit and life."  Have I ever received what Jesus speaks?  "My peace I give to you"  it is a peace which comes from looking into His face and realizing His undisturbedness.' Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition

It was no coincidence that this was today's reading in 'ole Oswald.  Actually, every time I engage with Oswald, it is far from coincidental...sometimes it just plain freaks me out.  There hasn't been a time when I sat to open the pages of his book that it isn't spot-on, punch-me-in-the-face purposeful!  Did you catch the question he asked of us?  "Have I ever received what Jesus speaks?"  I caught it. I stayed on it long. Swelling in my heart was the answer to the question; burning its way to my lips as if I couldn't get it out fast enough.  "YES!"  My answer is "YES!"  I have received what Jesus speaks...and that is why after 1 year and 7 months almost to the day of my last entry, I am writing this.  I needed to tell you the story, my story; the one that Jesus has written about me.  This blog has several past entries, written by me, from a heart that wasn't quite whole.  They are all true stories about my life experiences, ones full of tears and laughter and God encounters...and they all matter in His pursuit of me and I would choose to live them again.  

"Ozzie", as he is affectionately called around our house,  goes on to say: 'Reflected peace is the proof that you are right with God because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him.  If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself.  If you allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you, you are either disturbed or you have a false security.'  OUCH!  See what I mean...that was a straight up punch in the face!!! This was me not so long ago: self focused and falsely secure.  

My life has been marked by the "Look Good, Do Good, Be Good" mentality. I was really good at being good and really exhausted. I grew up in church, went twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays.  I had amazing grandparents who made a real effort to get me there when my parents couldn't and I rarely missed as a child.  I talked to Jesus and learned how to tell him I loved him because of a song I memorized from Psalty the Singing Songbook (come on, don't pretend you didn't jam it out to Psalty back in the day).  The problem was that nobody really told me (or if they did, it didn't sink in) that Jesus didn't just belong at church and that I could have a real relationship with Him. 

Then I became a teenager (do I really need to elaborate on this...really?)  Pretty much did my thing, attitude and all.  There were lots of times when the 'being good' part of my plan kind of fell to the wayside, but by God's grace I made it to young adulthood without any major derailments.  College was more of the same, but by this time my exhaustive efforts of "Good" were resulting in insecurity, anxiety, and fear.  I would bounce in and out of church whenever it was convenient, or if I am being transparent here and I am, if I felt like getting out of bed to get there on time.

And then enters my knight in shining armor!  Okay, so it wasn't like that at all, but stay with me.  Through a series of events (a terribly unhealthy relationship, parting ways with my roommate of 4 years,  and overwhelming anxiety and insecurity) I found myself applying for a job at a local restaurant.  It was a last ditch effort to make new friends and get out of my funk.  Long story short (because this is a whole other story that is my second favorite to tell next to this one of my redemption) I met my future husband.  He told me how important Jesus was in his life and I thought, "Hey I believe in Jesus, so this is going to work out just fine."  

We had begun attending a new church and in August of 2000 I took a step of courage toward the cross.  I left my seat during an alter call.  This was such a big deal because it meant being known and exposed and wrestling with the thoughts in my head about what everyone must think about me!  Afterall, I was back on track of Look Good, Do Good, Be Good.  I knelt down front and got to dump off a lot of things that day.  When I went back to my seat I had a new fire.  I was hungry to know all about Jesus!  And off I went...to bible studies, book stores, conferences, serving roles, journaling, and anything else I could get my hands on in the name of Jesus!  I strived to learn all I could about Him and I fell in love with Him.  He showed up big time in more than one area in my life.  I tried to do all the things I knew Jesus would want me to do but I was most often frustrated and rarely had joy.  You see, what happened that day 13 years ago was me doing what would make me feel better about myself and getting up from that alter "knowing" exactly what I "should" do for Jesus.  There was a big huge part of that encounter that was missing~an exchange.  It would take years for me to realize it~and in His greatness, Jesus never stopped pursuing me.

I kept filling my head with knowledge and doing good for Jesus.  I went on a mission trip to Malawi, Africa (that you can read about in this blog) that forever changed my heart, and stirred a love in me that I didn't know I could have. I was even baptized because I understood the act of obedience that it was and I wanted to be good for Jesus and the people in my life. We were attending a church near Columbus, Ohio at the time of the baptism and mission trip.  That church was led well, and week after week I soaked up some AMAZING teaching...but all the while I was soaking, spiritual pride was manifesting.  Nothing that was filling my head was getting to my heart!  And everyone assumed I was "good" in my walk with Jesus.  I didn't know any different and neither did they.

While I was still getting comfortable with our move from Indiana to Ohio, God was already planning a major right hand turn in our lives.  Another move....to Kentucky (of all places, the home of horses and college basketball neither of which spark any form of excitement in me).  The weeks before our move a sweet girl by the name of Angie told us about a church in Lexington that she thought we would LOVE!!  We thanked her for her help and set out to 'find our own way'...needless to say we spent weeks church shopping and every week we left empty and frustrated that it wasn't the right fit.  After one more completely brutal Sunday dragging our kids to yet another set of strange faces and leaving defeated, I said to my honey, "Next week, we are going to Quest."

We had been attending Quest Community Church for over a year and I had jumped in right away with a serving role, a women's lifegroup, a couple's lifegroup, even acceptance into Accelerate (our churches leadership development program).  I was doing it completely under my own control. I had no idea that I had never surrendered my whole heart to Jesus and received His Grace and the Gift he was offering me in exchange for my junk. What He wanted to do in my heart was not convenient for me and I fought it, hard.  I was clinging to that moment 13 years ago as MY moment of accepting Jesus and forging ahead with all "his" good!  And I was completely exhausted...if you are on the never ending merry-go-round of the Do Gooders...you know what I am talking about.

It was after hearing a message about Mary and Martha (it has always been one of my favorites by the way) when I realized my life was all about "doing things for Jesus, and rarely about being with Jesus," and that was because I had never given Him access to my whole heart.  It was at baptism three days after that message this past April, that he wrecked me.  Those being baptized shared their stories of redemption from stage. It was Sondra Stakelin's, a sweet little grandma who had lived 60 plus years doing good for Jesus, that spoke to the condition of my heart...it was a foreshadowing of where I was heading in my feat to be GOOD!  It was as if Jesus was saying to me, "You can keep going in the direction that you are going, but I can never give you rest in it".  For the first time ever I was forced to realize that I was drowning in Spiritual Pride.  I was a good girl, I loved people, there was no way I could be prideful (typical of a prideful person).  It was so hard to humble myself because I didn't want all that had happened over the past 13 yrs not to count.  My husband of 12 years, had no idea. As a matter of fact, he had just asked me two weeks earlier, "So do I really know your whole Jesus story?"  I wanted to punch him square in the nose!!  We had been married for 12 years...how could he not know me?  My family had only seen Jesus through my own pride and all I "knew" about Him.  I cheered on friends in my lifegroup who accepted Christ in my living room and I just missed it. Everyone around me had an impression of me that wasn't the real me~it was good, but it wasn't the me He created me to be.  I was embarrassed and ashamed.  Now I understand that all of those years did matter in His pursuit of me; even down to the one where Jesus gave me Isaiah 41:10 as a scared 19 year old on her first airplane flight who packed her dusty bible "just in case".  He NEVER let me go.

I kept seeing a wall, very clearly that night at the service, that I couldn't get over without laying down the control and the pride. On April 17th 2013 two amazing women in my life encouraged me and loved me as I "climbed" over that wall as they led me to Jesus and I made the exchange of my "good" for His best.  The peace in my heart was unexplainable and I could finally just sit at His feet.  I didn't care what anyone thought, my embarrassment went away, I didn't feel like I needed to perform, or even be good!!  I just felt at rest.  Since then there have been several times when my old "good" self wants to lead out, but I can bring everything under Jesus’ authority and believe who He says I am.   
Click the link to see a so sweet capture of this moment:

http://photos.questcommunity.com/2013Events/The-Uprising/The-Uprising-2013-Baptism/i-b5dkbwb/0/M/130417%20THE%20UPRISING%20BAPTISM%205005-M.jpg
So on June 2nd, I made the choice to be baptized having received a new heart in Christ.  I got to stand on the stage and share my story to hundreds of people in church and online...you won't believe what Jesus did!  My husband was in the back of the church praying for me as I spoke because He wanted Jesus to show me that it mattered that I didn't keep quiet.  You see, I didn't feel my story was very significant...I wasn't rescued from the pit of despair due to addiction or abuse or abandonment....HE rescued me from myself  and answered the prayer of my honey.  While I was still dripping wet from the dunking, Jesus gave me the sweetest gift.  There was a girl sitting in the crowd, the sister of my dearest friend, who heard my story and said, "that's me".  She responded to hearing the Gospel from our Pastor and gave her life to Christ right then AND had the courage to be baptized on the spot completely unprepared.  Only Jesus can do a work like that and use a once completely prideful good girls story to make a ripple for His Kingdom!  Feeling like an "Amen" is in order in the house ;)!! Here's my favorite pic from baptism:

http://photos.questcommunity.com/Category/Simplify-April-13th-Through/Simplify-Your-Faith-Sunday1130/i-hwXr9b5/0/M/130602%20SIMPLIFY%20YOUR%20FAITH%204134-M.jpg

So here I am with John 14:27...."the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give."  Friends, this is my story.  Jesus' story that is being lived out right here in this passionate-about-a-lot-of-things-not-great-at-any-of-them-girl.  I wrote this because Jesus prompted me to...and I believe that it will matter in one way or another.  In ways that I may never know until I get to Heaven, but I couldn't keep quiet.  I needed to re-introduce myself to you and tell you that you want this kind of eternal peace.  Things are no where near Rainbows and Unicorns (as my little firecracker says) for me, but it's okay.  Even today I peeled that firecracker off my hips and handed her to her teacher screaming, because in her world a five year old needs a pair of shoes to match every outfit and she couldn't see past it...but thankfully (after a long walk, a sweet word from my honey, and a cup of coffee) I can.  I know without a doubt where I will go if these words are the last you ever read from me and getting to rest in that peace is like nothing I have ever known before and it has nothing to do with any "good" things I said or my performance.  Thank goodness I don't have to be in control of my eternity, doing God's "job" is exhausting.  So I will borrow from Ozzie and ask you "Have you ever received what Jesus speaks?"  I love you!  Thanks so much for being in this moment with me.  

A note to sweet Angie:  thanks for your obedience to Jesus in mentioning the church He wanted us to attend.  It has made all the difference. BTW, the Hamilton's are amazing!

This is my story...This is my song....

Yesterday I stood among a sanctuary full of women who were praising and worshiping God together before being ushered off to the small group session of BSF.  BSF stands for Bible Study Fellowship and is an international bible study that meets weekly.  A very sweet friend from Ohio has encouraged me for a few years to join.  I tried in Ohio, but there wasn't a spot available for my Hallie in the children's class (which also has a curriculum based on the same lesson the grown-ups are doing) so I moved.  Upon, our move to Kentucky, that same friend reminded me of BSF and after finding a local chapter I was pleased to discover they had spots for both myself and my Hallie girl!  It has been amazing.  


Part of the structure of BSF is to sing hymns (you know the ones from actual song books in church~not normally what you hear on K-Love).  At first I didn't think I would really enjoy that part, as I really prefer the Contemporary Christian music that really makes me what to burst open in praise.  I grew up with the 'old hymns' and honestly never really connected with them.  Until yesterday.


As I stood the song Blessed Assurance was being played on the piano and I closed my eyes.   My Grandmother Holt used to play that song.  She primarily played the organ at church and I could just hear the notes as her fingers struck those black and whites.  At that moment, I was overcome with emotion.  I missed her ( I was only 7 when she passed away) terribly.  I began to remember as I sang 'This is my story, This is my song..." all the memories I had of her.  She reminded me of June Cleaver, always wearing her pearls and whipping up yumminess for her boys (my dad was the youngest).  As I think back, she was the essence of Grace and Beauty. Then I thought how sweet it was that even for a short time, she was a part of my story.  The thing that warms my heart is that I have hope that I may see her when I get to heaven.  I wonder if she might be playing "Blessed Assurance" up there. 


When I opened my eyes, these words from the song were on the screen 'Heir of Salvation, Purchase of God.  Born of His Spirit, Washed in His Blood.'  Friends, do you even know how awesome that is???  


We are Heirs to the King of Kings of the Eternal Kingdom that NEVER ENDS!!!!  We were purchased as treasures by God through the dying of His ONLY SON!  


It is not just by chance that I am sitting at this desk, breathing.  God chose me.  And because He chose me I have a responsibility to respond (another profound thought from BSF).  Do you want to spend Eternity in a place of perfection?  Do you desire that Blessed Assurance?  You know what loves, you can have it.  Just speak His name, asking for forgiveness from your sins (we are all born sinners.  I was no different, until I chose to be different), and choose to believe in the One who died so you can live.  


How cool that all those years of listen to 'old hymns' was not just designed to be music to my ears, but to be assurance for my heart.  And what a sweet bonus that HE attached my memories of those songs Blessed Assurance to a beautiful, graceful, child of His.  Thank you Grandmother for being a part of my story, save me a seat on that piano bench!


'This is my story....This is my song....Praising my Savior all the day long.'

Happily Ever After in.....KENTUCKY??!!??

Well this has been a week, folks!!!  I was getting super excited to begin teaching pilates and kickboxing again at the local YMCA!  I was supposed to start today~except I'm not.  My hubby had submitted to be willing to God's offer of going to Africa in February on a mission with our church~except the door was shut.  Hallie was twirling and tapping her way to her very first dance recital in May~except she won't be going.  Parker was counting the days until he could play soccer again in the Spring~except the Strikers will be striking without him.  I realize this all sounds very over dramatic and it is intended to!  What you were just privilegded to read was the small temper tantrum of an almost 34-year old mature woman!  And now I'm done and I feel better.....


So a week ago today my darling husband called to tell me that he believed very much that we would be moving......to KENTUCKY.......the first week of.........JANUARY.  If you know our family or have read any of my blogs you know that we moved to Ohio from Indiana nearly 3 years ago for an 18 month "temporary" venture.  Well after 2 yrs we had just thrown up our hands, moved out of our apartment and into a rental home just this past May in order to "live where we live".  We were settling in~for the long haul.  Clearly, our timing and God's timing are not exactly the same.  I say 'long haul' (meaning a couple of years), HE hears 'long haul' (meaning 6 months).  So in the last week, I have played over the several moving opportunities we have heard about in the almost 3 years of being in Ohio, that didn't play out.  Let's see, there was Lincoln, Nebraska, Fresno, California, Boston, Massachusetts, Witchita, Kansas, and Highland, Illinois.  Each time I of course, like any supportive wife would, went straight to Google to research schools, homes, churches, climate, and of course driving distance from our extended families.  Each of those 'opportunites' were removed leaving us even more determined to just bloom where we had been planted.  But this time was different.


I saw a certainty in my lovie that told me, "this is for real~get to Goggling".  Once we were face to face to talk about this we both had the most amazing peace~you know the kind~it's as if your entire being sighs and you just know it's supposed to happen exactly as it unfolds.  So instead of resistance and dread of moving our kids in the middle of the school year, or the always pleasant church shopping, or having your house be full of strange men touching EVERYTHING (i'm kind of a germ-a-phobe) we are willing to accept WHATEVER, WHENEVER, WHEREVER!  


 Two years ago, we would not have been ready for this.  God allowed the opportunities, and shut the doors in order to better mold us and shape us both into who HE wanted us to be before leaving Ohio.  I'm convinced he brought us to Ohio for that purpose alone.  Now, let me just say that we are no where near our full potential in God's eyes, but we are so much more willing to be molded than if He has left us to ourselves in Indiana.  I know it doesn't have to be that way for everyone, some people can live in the same place forever and still be willing to be molded~but not the SISNEY'S!  He needed to isolate us and remove our comfort zone in order for us to become completely dependent on HIM.


And, I wouldn't change one part of the process even if I could.  Ohio has been the most amazing journey for our family!  We met some amazing people, learned so much about ourselves, and grew spiritually in ways I never thought possible.  So the temper tantrum you experienced is just my fleshy human response to the obvious~things change.  It's normally not pleasant, or anticipated, or desired, but it happens.  I am overwhelmed when I think about how much more God has to teach and show our family.  I expect Him to blow us away and it is already so obvious that HE is driving this ship~now if I can just remember to keep my hands off the wheel~we should all be just fine!


When I graduated from high school and RAN out of Kentucky, I never thought my Happily Ever After would bring me back there.  Thankfully though, we get to experience a city that neither of us ever would on our own accord.  Lexington, KY here come the Sisney's!  

Stirrin' the Pot and Pushin' the Plow

Today I am breathing.  I am breathing because God allows it.  Have you ever just sat and listened to yourself breath.......in........out.......in.......out?  It can be quite intimate when you put it into perspective with: 

Acts 17:28~For in Him we live and move and exist.  

We live because He created us, We move because he deems it so, We exist because he continues to sustain us~by design.  Not because we deserve it, not because we have earned it, and most certainly not because He has to.  HE desires to.  HE desires us.

Today I sit and I am breathing with a desire to be full of HIM, to not stand up unless He purposes me to do so.  For me this is how I lay myself at HIS feet.  Less of me, More of you, Lord.  Breath in YOU, Breath out ME.  Sometimes I have to come to these moments of simplicity to submit to God's stirring of the pot and to surrender my pushing of the plow.  

Let me just define these phrases according to the highly esteemed Sisney Family Reference.

"Stirrin' the Pot"~ a phrase used when the Spirit within is churning and bringing to realization the unavoidable purposes and plans the Lord God has predestined in our lives.

"Pushin' the Plow" ~ a phrase intended to express our fleshly abilities to "handle it" or "make it happen" because if it's something we desire, it MUST also be what God desires for us (or so we mistakenly believe at times).

And I am there at the corner of "Pushin' the Plow" and "Stirrin' the Pot".  I pause.  I breath.  I am reminded:

Proverbs 19:21 ~ You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.

I think I'll save myself the sprained ankles, broken spirit, and calloused heart that "Pushin' the Plow" can bring.   Instead, I will submit to the stirring and stand in awe of what my God will bring to the surface.

And I will continue breathing......because He is my air.

Peace and Passion

I wanted to badly to get these journal entries blogged immediately after returning from Africa, but guess what??  Life moved back in and robbed my time.  I am bitter about that because I have allowed it.  I am frustrated by that because it makes me want to retreat from all things, but how can God use me if I'm a home-bound hermit??  It is what it is and here is the "rest of the story" 


Day 12~It's starting to wind down.


Today was so peaceful.  This morning I was able to just stand out back of our cabin and look over the city of Zomba down below.  What a breath taking view and that's what I did~ I just breathed.  I prayed that god would not allow me to return home unchanged and for the amazing opportunities to see his hand.  I was invited to attend a teen girls seminar this morning about Etiquette at the Ku Chawe Hotel (Sunbird).  The hotel was beautiful, it's just a little farther up the mountain than our cabins.  I would definitely stay there for vacation, the food smelled delicious, the rooms seems so nice, and the views were unbelievable.  


Omega and Misse (from the Passion Center staff) gave a talk to the girls about Etiquette, not just how we outwardly present and handle ourselves, but also about how we inwardly reveal our beauty.  The one thing that just sizzled on my heart was when Omega told the girls they were "expensive" and not to cheapen themselves for anything or anyone.  After all, they are daughters of THE KING.  I can't wait to start teaching that to Hallie!  In the afternoon I went down to the Passion Center hoping to play with Kalipo and Phalles, but they weren't around.  However, God never disappoints because as soon as we showed up other children quickly joined us in playing with the Parachute...it was such fun!  


Team Time was amazing tonight.  First of all it was Joni's birthday (Chris' was the day before and since they are THE LOVIES we celebrated together!) so we got to have brownies...HOORAY!!  But we also sang Sweetly Broken one last time and it was such a precious moment for me.  "For on it my Savior, both bruised and crushed showed that God is love and God is just"  This is my favorite line because no matter what I have seen or experienced here in Malawi or what I want to change about the trials in the lives of the people here, I can have faith that God is LOVE and God is JUST even here in Zomba, Malawi.


Day 13~THE GOODBYES


It's bittersweet and I can honestly say THE most amazing experience of my life. This morning I went down to the Passion Center in the earliest leaving Pajero I could squeeze into.  When we arrived we took our last walk down to the Multipurpose Room and I silently prayed that God would allow me to love on Phalles and Kalipo one last time.  Oh boy did He provide!  As my head popped over the hedges I heard, "SUMMA, SUMMA!"  and there stood my Phalles arms open wide ready to run toward me for her hug!  Remember this is the same child who would barely make eye contact with me on Day 1.  What a precious child.  We played most of the morning and then I wanted to take her aside to explain that I had to go back to America tomorrow.  I couldn't even get a word out before she became so excited talking to me in Chechewan, pointing to herself and to the villages in the distance.  I, of course, couldn't understand her, so thankfully Fatsani, one of the interns from the Passion Center was close by and was able to translate for me.  Here's what she said, "I am so happy that you are here and I want you to come to my house."  I was thrilled and overwhelmed.  Fatsani walked with us (as navigation/direction is not my strong suit).  I held Phalles' hand as she practically pulled me through the village paths to her village.  I was able to meet her mother, who is so beautiful, and as soon as I arrived they hurried to get me a mat to sit on so I wouldn't get dirty by sitting on the ground.  Fatsani translated and this American mother, who loves her own children deperately, talked to this Malawian mother who is desperately trying to provide for her own child.  It was AWESOME!  I was so humbled to be accepted so willingly.  I mean a stranger shows up unexpected and instead of thinking 'oh my hair is a mess, or I haven't cleaned the house' Elina rushes to bring me a mat to sit on!  I could learn so much for this gorgeous lady.  Through Fatsani, I was able to ask Elina about specific prayer request, her health, Phalles, and her salvation.  I promised her that I would pray for her as requested and I learned that she had been saved in Dec. 2008~what a Blessing!  We took some pictures, we prayed and I encouraged her Mom 2 Mom.  I can't tell you how sweet this was, I am still so overwhelmed.


On our walk back, Fatsani also pointed out that Kalipo lived in the same village and we called his name to see if he was home.  After calling a few times, Fatsani asked if I would recognize him and I said on yes~I can't forget that smile!  Before long here comes my Kalipo beaming from ear to ear down his village road.  The funny thing was that after chatting both Phalles and Kalipo wanted to clean up before coming to play with me.  Fatsani and I headed back to the Passion soccer field and before long my sweets joined me.  Kalipo, his friends, and I played a little extreme Frisbee and Phalles had fun taking pictures.  After a bit I took Kalipo aside because I wanted to share a few things with him.  I told him I was leaving and I encouraged him to choose good friends and to live for God.  He said he understood but he never spoke English to me during my visit, so I trust that he heard me.  I told him that he would always be a piece of my heart and that I would pray daily for him.  I also let him know I would write and send pictures.  It was tough leaving them but I didn't want to cry in front of them.  I wanted them to remember smiles!  


Later on we gathered at The Rock for a group picture and before we parted for good I hugged them and blew them a kiss (which was precious~all Kalipos friends erupted in adolescent laughter punching him on the arm)  I redeemed him and went back for a much cooler love filled knuckle bump :~).  Phalles was just adorable and hugged and blew kisses over and over.  


I've said it before but a portion of my heart is shaped a little like Malawi now.  As we walked down the hill I kept looking back to that rock where the kids remained and I couldn't believe God chose me to be on this trip.  And to experience his Love and his Glory through a place called the Passion Center in Zomba, Malawi.


Tionana Zomba!!  (see you later, Zomba)

One Last Squeeze!

LOVE