Family Update

We are heading back to the other side of the pond! Our time here has been full of joys, new relationships challenges, and surprising joys. One of those joys is that we are bringing a souvenir(of a somewhat Scottish nature) along with us. We are expecting our second baby! He/she is due December 8, 2014, and we are thrilled! We know we have our work cut out for us, but we welcome it, and we are ready!

In other news, Kirk has been offered a ministry job in New England, which he has accepted! We feel that New England is where we are supposed to be, and so this job (the Associate/Family Pastor at Trinity Evangelical Church in North Reading) fits our hearts' desire and sense of calling. We will move back to New England around the beginning of August, and we will settle into our new church shortly after. We are looking forward to settling in and meeting the community!

Our summer will be full of family, adventures, and a whole lot of writing for Kirk. He is in the process of finishing his degree, and so he plans on taking most of June and part of July to complete his dissertation (we would call it a thesis in the US). 

Time and all of our current busyness prevents me from being able to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for my dear friends here in Edinburgh. What a beautiful picture of honest, real community! I wish I could write a specific 'shout out' to each of you, but hopefully you know my heart by now :). 

We are grateful for the time God has given us in the UK. Though it's not 'home', we truly believe this time was important to grow us closer to each other and to Jesus. We have so much we can learn when we allow ourselves to be stretched beyond what we know and are comfortable with, though it's never easy! 

Thank You, Father for looking out for us and for constantly drawing us back to You! Thanks for these amazing people we have met and grown to love! I pray that we will be able to stay in touch and that you will bless them beyond what they can ever imagine!

What a fun ride it has been! 

It has been a while.

I love this verse:

"Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

Growing up, I probably would have taken this out of context and applied it to whatever desire or craving I had at the time, but as I read through John 16 this morning, I was comforted and challenged  by Jesus' own words to his disciples. He is talking to them about his return to the Father and the entry of the Holy Spirit into their lives. Jesus' closest friends are getting worried by his seemingly cryptic message, but he assures them that they will not be left alone. I love that. 

His words still apply today. He didn't leave us alone, and we are not powerless. I think I forget to ask The Comforter to enter into my day-to-day situations, because I'm fearful that the "comfort" I receive will not come in the form that I had hoped. And that is when I come to grips with a harsh reality that is hidden in the depths of who I am: I don't believe Jesus has good things for me, because I don't live 'loved'. I don't always see myself as He does- complete, entire, and lacking in no good thing (in Him).  I don't trust that He is always there, and because of that, my fear drives me to live in discontentment, shame, and the feeling that I owe Him.

So, as I read Jesus' words today, I will ask something in His name- fill me, equip me, and strenthen me by the power of your Holy Spirit, that my joy may be full. I want to know that comfort in a real way. I want to embrace each day with trust and openness to whatever lies ahead, because The Comforter is here! He is real, and he is the One who equips us for whatever we may face.

May you know how loved you are today. May you experience the power and strength He offers. May you live 'loved'. And when you ask something in His name, may you believe that He hears you and longs to bring you joy.

Refreshed.

I'll have to admit, I have been in a dry place lately. Maybe it's all of the loss I have witnessed? Maybe it's that I have chosen other comforts over the Comforter? Whatever the reason, I finally reached a point where my dry heart needed some nourishing.

As I was in bed last night scrolling through my phone, a sweet friend happened to be online in a time when I needed to pray, and it was such a needed moment with Jesus. Even though she wasn't in the same room, I felt like God used her to remind me of his ever-presentness (even when I had been basically ignoring Him). My favorite scriptures began to flood my mind, and a wave of thankfulness overtook me. At this point, my worries, fears and doubts were muted by the power of this thankfulness and feeling of security with Him. To top it off, I had the best night's sleep that I have had in awhile! 

As I face today, the worries and fears remain a temptation, but I am now more aware of God's power over them. The uncertainties may stay uncertain, but I trust that He is near and has a plan.

I pray that each of you feel refreshed today. I pray that you feel strengthened and sustained by the One who pursued you (and still does). I pray for us to remember His pursuit and be thankful. In that thankfulness, may we remember that God is near. When we ignore Him, He's still near. When we wrestle, He's near. When we can't seem to make sense of a situation, He's near.

Let's involve Him. Let's invite Him in. 

3 You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4

Life is precious. No, seriously- It is!

Over the past week, I have become keenly aware that our time on earth is short, our next day is not guaranteed, and the crap that we allow ourselves to hold against another is not worth the energy we spend on it.

Kirk lost his grandad, and our pastor in Scotland lost his brother. My heart grieves for these families, and I am now, more than ever, awakened to the painful reality that people pass away- people who were loved, laughed with, cried with, adventured with, eaten with, you name it. All too soon, we can easily forget the preciousness of these seemingly mundane moments with those we love.

The truth is that moments matter. Even the moments we spend being aggravated about some idiosyncrasy someone may have- they matter. I'm convinced that it's best to deal with these aggravations ASAP and move on to getting back to the said 'moments' with those we love. 

I want to love hard. I want to love with no regrets. I want to go to bed celebrating the moments I get to spend with people, instead of racing through all of the times I could have sounded cooler or looked better in my day. I am challenged to keep this revelation (for lack of a better term) in my heart and mind as I wake up and greet the day. 

May we all love hard. May we all love with  no regrets. May we all truly be in the moment with the people we love (and even those who may be hard to love).

This post is written in loving memory of Avery Patterson and Jordan Lewis. I know you will both be missed greatly.

Oh, today... I love you!

Today has been one to remember. The sun and the spontaneous family moments in the park have reminded me of the beauty of the 'simple things' in life. I have never been more thankful for something so small, but the sunshine has  been a huge boost for me over the past couple of days. It really is healing- body, mind, and soul!

Today I am thankful that no matter where we end up after this year abroad, we will be together as a family. Even if we go to another rainy place, I will just look forward to days like today and moments like these:

For now, I'm soaking it in and enjoying these precious people! I'm a happy mama! Thank you, Father!

Embracing Plan 'B'

 Today was an adventure!

I have spent the majority of this week indoors, as I just felt like we have been out and about quite a bit lately. It has been a cozy week, but at some point, mamas and babies come down with a bad case of cabin fever! The 'only prescription' today was out-ness. 

Micah and I set out to leave for our pretty long bus ride, and I decided to put her in the carrier, because I know stroller space is limited (think of The Amazing Race, but with moms). I thought I was being clever by wearing her, but about halfway through the ride, she got surprisingly quiet and buried her head in my shirt. When she came back up, my shirt had been decorated with beautiful shades of cauliflower and sweet potato. I cleaned her up, thankful that it had passed, and 5 minutes later it happened again! Yes! I've always wanted more tye dye in my life! 

We had a great time with Lois, who graciously lent me a sweatshirt, and around 4:00, we set out for another bus adventure. This time it was raining, the bus wasn't coming for 15 more minutes, I neglected to bring an umbrella, and there was no room under the awning. Yes! Awesomeness... not my favorite scenario!

Once we got on the bus, Micah started crying, so I thought she was hungry. I fed her, praying that it would calm her down, and then my little motion-sick baby started up again! At that point, I was DONE! I got off the bus, stood in the rain and waited for a taxi. I knew she might yak again, but I couldn't bear the stops and starts of the bus anymore, and I knew she couldn't. 

The taxi showed up quickly, and we didn't have any cash to pay him.  Yes! More awesomeness! Thankfully, Kirk was still home when I got there so he could take care of it (true awesomeness). He left hastily after that to go preach somewhere, and then MG and I started her nighttime routine. After all of the travel madness, I was a little nervous about putting her down, but she fell asleep peacefully, and I am in my third sweatshirt of the day! 

I guess being a mom is all about embracing plans B, C, and even Z. I learn a bit more about that every day. Gotta love this job!

Even on 'awesome' days, this picture sums it up:

The task I've been avoiding

Everyone has that one "special area" in their house that becomes a magical, Mary Poppins-esque catch-all spot. I wish there was just one in my apartment (especially since we have only lived here for six months), but alas, there are about five. Most of them will be ignored til we move back to the states, but one area has reached its full capacity, and that one area is Micah's closet. Oh, no! Micah's closet? Do I really have to pack up the clothes that no longer fit? Already? Wasn't she born yesterday?

I organized. I teared up. I bagged up size newborn, three months, and so on, and it just got harder... What is my deal?Memories of the past eight months flooded my mind and heart, and I didn't expect it. I thought it was going to be a quick and easy task, but I was clearly wrong. 

I guess it just means I love this little chatty, mobile bundle more than I can express, and I am grateful that I get to spend each day making memories with her. 

Next time the closet calls, I'll know what to expect. I'm sure I'll cry again... And again... And again. I'm sure this is just the beginning, but I'll embrace each new Mommy moment as it comes.