School

We have been having an adventurous, fun-filled and stimulating academic year. :) I am thankful that we get to have this time to grow together. It is such a privilege for me to be home all the time with our children. How precious to explore God's creation together!

Searching for worms for our worm jar.

Abbie "playing viloin" (It's really my violin--her violin is a 32nd size!)
Elizabeth is always ready to add F-U-N to any part of life! ;)

more missing teeth!

Jonathan has lost two more teeth this week!!! He lost one Friday afternoon and one yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. I've had to cross corn-on-the-cob and apples off our list of food items!!! :)

Friday's picture
Yesterday's picture

The Smile

Celebrate!!!

When I was a little girl I wanted a baby sister. Desperately. So, I prayed that God would give me one...and he blessed me with a beautiful baby sister who I met when she was one hour old. When she was in my mom's womb I was the perfect height to talk directly to her, my mouth being right at the height of my mom's tummy. I talked to her all the time. When I first met her my dad was holding my baby sister, Melodie, in a rocking chair and I walked into the hospital room and I said "Hi mom!" and my precious little sister turned her little head completely around, looked at me, and smiled. That was the beginning of a wonderful journey together!

Mellie and I had 5 years between us in age but it didn't seem like it most of the time. We did many things together. She was never one to leave behind! :) One year we were able to go to a camp with AWANA together. It would be my last year and her first year going. On the first or second night she watched a movie about a missionary, I don't remember the details,was it Nate Saint? I don't know, I just remember an airplane and a strong plea for missions. Anyway, she cried and said that she wanted to be a missionary. I thought she was just being emotional. I have always disliked movies and "worship" or any other times that your emotions are manipulated to make you feel a certain way. (For clarification: I was a music major because I love the structure and laws of music. I love the mental process of writing and reading good music. Theory: I love. Ear training: I struggle).

Well, Melodie never wavered on that "emotional" commitment. She has always had a genuine interest in people. She always takes you where you are and accepts you while challenging you to be more. Melodie is also very gifted in many areas, I will name just a few, not because of a lack in her talents, but because of my own limitations in classifying, or even being aware of all her skills. Her skills include: organizing, sewing, cooking, planning, teaching, mentoring, leading, beautifying (i.e. hair cutting, makeup, nails,etc...), etc. etc. etc... She is in a nutshell: a leader.

And so God took Melodie to Albania, where she was leading her college drama and music team, and gave her a very special vision for the Albanian people. During those trips she met a missionary from America, married to an Englishman, now a missionary in Albania,Caralee (sp?). Caralee is one of those intuitive people into the character of people, knew that Melodie was someone she would like to see come back to Albania...and so a friendship flourished. Emails flew and soon Melodie had plans to go back to Albania for one year.

Melodie had been to Albania on two missions trips, two different years during college. During her first trip she was asked what she wanted to do with her life. "Have a dozen sons." Amid shouts of laughter the kids of the church introduced her to a man whom they said had the same dream. Melodie ended up working alongside this man, Erion, and admired and learned from his communication skills, his leadership skills and his thinking skills. He was a children's pastor and also an English translator.

When Melodie began her year long journey in Albania she grew convinced that the people and the culture where part of her life's vocation. She gave her heart to the Albanian people and a young man there wanted her to give him her heart as well... :)

On September 6, 2006 Erion proposed to Melodie amongst sunflowers (her favorite flowers) and a special dinner. The joy and delight that Melodie relayed to us was very dear. She is a wonderful woman and Erion has found a gem in her. She will always consider her Beloved's needs above her own and will nurture their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. She is one who will never allow her household to face cold or hunger because she will always be industrious. A piece of our family will be in Albania now. How grateful we are for the years our lives were graced with Melodie's and how delighted we are to watch her blossom in her new home.

We had the privilege of meeting Erion briefly over the Christmas holiday. We look forward to a lifetime of friendship and a very special new Uncle in...ONE YEAR and TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We love you!!!

I only have one group of pictures of Melodie and Erion and they are all from the same night. Here is the happily engaged couple, Melodie and Erion!!!

Law

(God speaking to Moses): "You yourselves have seen what I did to
Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to
myself.
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all
nations you will
be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth
is mine, you will be
for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
Ex. 19:4-5

What an amazing promise. The Creator promising to make the nation of Israel his own treasured possession, His own special kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The one condition? Obedience. Full obedience and a keeping of His covenant. Our "but human-ness" declares that this is "attainable". These people had seen God's amazing work and knew that He was One to give their full allegiance to.

Then God took Moses and Aaron up on the mountain and began to display the contents of the law to them: first the famous ten commandments, 1. you shall have no other god's before me. 2. No graven images. 3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath day holy 5. Honor your father and mother. 6. Do not murder. 7. Do not commit adultery 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not lie 10. Do not covet. This list is the most famous of a whole list of laws that included: laws about slaves, property, social responsibility, personal injuries, and festivals. These laws show such a Good, Righteous and Holy God.

We see the children of Israel fail before they even begin on their journey of obedience. Their disobedience was not just a lack of self-control but a much deeper problem: imputed sin. When the first man, Adam, disobeyed God his sin was imputed to all who would be born through his blood-line. Everyone. Except one. That is the key to the laws that were to be kept in accordance with the standards of the Righteous God. The imputed sin that Adam passed onto his children would find its lone adversary through One, God's Son, Jesus Christ. The justification that would be given through Christ would allow imputed righteousness which would preclude the imputed sin.

As I said in my last post, God saw the people he was dealing with and knew they were but human and he provided for their very human needs. Their bickering, whining, self-centerdness were an expression of their human condition. How desperately this human condition needed a deliverer so that it could function at it's full capacity.

How thankful I am that God has redeemed me. My sins are many. I look at my aspirations and they're "good" but how wonderfuly greater to have One who is performing His good in my life--breathing new life into me which liberates me from the ball and chain of my sin.

As parents, Joe and I get to represent both law and grace to our children. To teach them that we are the ultimate authority that God has given them. We get to unfold the law and teach them, hold them accountable and train them. We get to encourage them and delight in their successes and shine a search beam on their sins.

How wonderful that God has provided for us in our human condition and may we cling to His example as we live and our lives affect the lives around us.