kinda like a growth chart at the end of the year?

Here's my best shot at sizing up where each of our kids have grown to in 2010...

John John:  unspeakably delightful.  18 months is truly a favorite age for Matt and I so far on our journey in parenting.  It's the best (and last!) of "baby."  John is beginning to talk and is understanding so much.  He loves to find special toys for his big bro and sis if they are hurt or sad.  Loves, loves his Moses bear and Moses blanket.  Snuggling both Mo.s, a cup of milk, and Mama on the couch is his very favorite way to wake up and often, he just won't settle for anything less.  Sometimes he's so enamored with the Mo.s that he doesn't want to be lifted from his bed where he's playing with them... and laughing to himself or at them.   Quite a runner: again, laughing at himself as he goes.   Adamant climber (chairs, stairs and the bunk bed ladder) and prolific greeter (Hi, Bye, and Zaijian- goodbye in Chinese).   Lover of dogs (and all animals are "Dahs" for now.)   Super man, compliments of Uncle Greg and Auntie Heather.  

Marian Lynn:   Definetely the firecracker in our group.  She is a truly super fun girl.  She's usually the most extroverted of our family but still not her most lively self in a group too large or unfamiliar.  Finishes a lollypop in 4.5 minutes.  Our dancing, singing, swinging, teaching (her invisible kids follow her around the house for lessons), bike-riding, dress-up princess, we love her so much, darling girl.  Queen of Hearts gown from Grether.

Isaiah: This guy seems way too big to be our boy... I think he's had a major growth spurt and we love to see how he's maturing.   Far superior artistic talent to mom or dad, great singer (when he thinks no one is listening), gifted and often longwinded storyteller (in Chinese and English),  future archer & swordsman,  bike rider, delicious to tickle, funny, wonderful boy.  Finishes a lollypop in 55 minutes.



Toy Story Mac-n-Cheese also from.... yep, Grether. Grandma and Grandpa sent some fantastic gifts too, but we were on the web cam with them to open those gifts so I missed getting any good shots.  And our sweet church family sent a great box of treats, and gifts, and wonderful hand-me-downs and needs that I had ordered online.  So blessed to receive from such thoughtful, loving friends and family!  Thank you all!


And.... the littlest one~  K4: We are so excited to meet this little one towards the end of March.  Since we are quite solidly planning that this will be our last pregnancy, the gender question seems all the more magnificently incredible!  Who will the Lord choose to add to our crew as our 4th little blessing?  We are so grateful for the near 27 weeks of growth so far and are praying for God's clear provision and peace for a healthy birth.  We still have no idea where we'll be for the birth- stay here or go to the capital?  So many factors to consider!   Belly shot coming...  :)

Merry Christmas Dear Friends!

We hope and trust that this year will be full of marveling and wonder and "inexpressible joy" to consider Christ, God who took on flesh to become the sacrifice for our sins.  His arrival we never deserved, but we have so graciously received it and now we joyfully celebrate.  May this Christmas be a deeply joyful celebration of His coming, His love, His grace!


We pray that He will draw each of you- and us too!- into more of His grace and wild wonderful love in the new year.  


in Christ, our Savior, King of All!
Matt and Jill
Isaiah, Marian, John, and K4 (due in March)

This morning, we took a few boxes to our new home and picked up the key... we'll be moving in Dec 31.  

Here's the incredible patio we are still amazed that we'll get to enjoy- right off our very own dining room.  So incredibly rare here!  May it be a place of delight well, well used!

We woke up to a light layer of snow- the first this year- and it's increased through the day.  Such a special treat!  Here's Matt loading up the first round of boxes to move to the new place.  

for more on each of our sweet kiddos, another post is coming soon :)

when a girl's heart leaks at the seams

Last night was glorious in a sweet, simple way.  The whole day was spent preparing for our best friends and neighbors, kids classmates and teachers who came for a Christmas party in our home.   Matt got out for a last minute meeting with a local brother to sharpen phrases and tweak sentences before he presented to our friends the reason we celebrate, the reason we worship God at Christmas.  Such dear friendships have been formed in these 11 months here.  Such sad goodbyes as we told them all we'll be moving the week after Christmas.


Our wonderful landlord was with us too, and her zany son, whom Isaiah absolutely adores.  Not a single one of us understands or agrees with or approves of the poor (unjust) decisions at our local law center that are forcing us to move from our home.  Everyone wants us to fight it but we've decided, with much peace and also great sadness, it's time for us to move on.


The kids were in bed only one hour late, exhausted from pillow fights and chases with kids from John's age up to twelve.  Cleanup was manageable and my amazing man blessed me to take a bulk of that load.  Then we sat down, exhausted too, on the couch for the last slice of the evening-  quietness, together, listening, marveling, praying.


Oh that these friends might receive the news of this Reason for Christmas.  Wonder that these friends and neighbors have become so dear in just 11 short months.  Would they know you, Christ!!


Oh to say goodbye to this home, this wonderful home that we love, where I pictured homeschooling big kids a few years down the road.  Our new place is great but I had dreamt so much of this home.   The Son of Man had no place to lay his head and apparently he is giving us grace to not let us lay our hopes down deep in a home for us either....  Last minute change to the contract on our new place made it a contract for just one year (we were hoping for 2 or 3 years).   But I will take it as grace for our good, though it is bitter too.


This baby is kicking me good- can't wait to meet him/her!-  and we still don't have a place to stay when we go to the capital for the birth in two and a half months.  


Oh that our lives here would be fruitful for the glory of the One who is worth everything we have to give.   Oh, oh to have a better view of him....  to be driven after who he is even more than the smaller aims we strive after for him.   Oh to know God!


How grateful I am to share all this with such a husband as mine!  And what a great dad he is too.


Sometimes I'm quite sure my seams will not hold- my heart and all these emotions you made me with, will burst out of me here- and I'm so glad to know that you welcome me like this- keeping all of these tears, hearing all of these prayers, knowing all of my heart.  


Endless thanks and awed joy to belong to such a God as You.

a bold bite of challenge

Ann Voskamp recently posted this video from Eric Ludy.  Watching, many tears flowed.  Compelled, joyfully, once again to do all that I can for the glory of our King.



Lord help me, help us, to live more honorably, to fight well for You, our Savior King!

Come, Jesus!  Make us who you want us to be. Work in your people for your glory, for LIFE for the needy, and our joy in you!

how did we miss this?

The kids and I were looking through old pictures recently and we found this video that I really don't remember at all.  I'm quite sure if I had seen it, I would remember having to squeeze tight to keep things together while I watched my son dance like this....


I know this won't strike everyone as funny as it does me, but there are some of you who I think just might laugh like I have.  Ladies, you know who you are, prepare your bladders....

John was in my belly there....  April 2009:  Isaiah was 3yo, Marian 1.5.

more favorites

We are all enjoying our advent time together....


Finish up dinner, turn off the lights, proclaim some Christmas reminder like "Christ the Light of the World!" as we light candles and light up the tree and gather together for some of his warmth and his word.  (As often is the case, this came by way of inspiration from  my dear friend Ann.   We're also reading her Jesse Tree devotional in this time together.)


Here are two favorite treasured moments from this time recently:


I pass around a plate of chocolate mint cookies (with a grateful heart for my mother-in-law mailing us those Andes chips!) and gather around our candle to read....  and John reaches from his high chair for his big brother's hand.  Those two boys sat the whole time listening, nibbling, quiet, wide-eyed at the candle, praying, holding hands.... till we got up from the table.


And then last night, Daddy suggested we leave the lights out after reading and prayer and turn up some good Christmas music.... Candle light to enjoy these current favorites:  Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" and Todd Agnew's "Do you see what I see?"   We snuggle cuddled on the couch,  two boys and us mom and dad, all listening and also watching our princess (she dressed up in two different dresses, with headbands to complete the deal) as she danced to her heart's fullest.....  silent laughter and wonder for the deep gratitude and incredible joy of such an evening of worshipping the Lord- our King who came for us!- together.


And one more...  not during advent time but on the walk home from school.  Marian looked at a pile of bricks at a construction zone we pass by and she exclaimed "Look Mama!  A castle!"  Oh for her eyes!  Of course Jesus loves such a love and beauty seeking heart as hers.  (And I sure do too...)  

more freebies!

Maybe we're the last Americans to figure out that you can download Kindle for your computer for FREE.  From Amazon, just enter Kindle for Mac or PC and you'll find it there.  There are scads of free classic books (Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice) not that we'll be reading any of those in this season, but in time, what a perfect thing to have for homeschooling here.  Free classics that we don't have to lug around with us.  Fantastic!


We also got to download a commentary on John from RC Sproul for free this week.  Don't know why, but it was free for a limited time.  We almost missed the deadline ourselves but if we found it earlier, we sure would have shared it here!

Much-Afraid

It was one of my mom's favorite books and I have her well loved copy now.  Hinds' Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard.  A treasure.  This story of Much-Afraid's journey with the Shepherd to the High Places is, in my mind, needful reading for every one who takes seriously their walk with Christ.   I say this because I think, as Americans, even among those of us who truly do love Christ, we too easily fall into assuming things, assuming we're all set with God...  We really do love Christ, we really want to honor him and we know we're not not saved by what we do and so we end up sloughing off and growing lazy.  And there's no good in that at all.  


I find her journey usually breaking me just where I need it.  

Oh what bold challenges this sweet timid friend finds for me!


I hope I don't spoil any of the plot for you, but I'll share three spots on her journey that have invigorated my heart most of all this week:


~ After traveling through the harsh desert, Much-Afraid found a flower, and after learning the flower's name, she replied with words that I want to be true in me, of me too.  "He has brought me here when I did not want to come, for his own purpose.  I, too, will look up into his face and say, 'Behold me!  I am thy little handmaiden Acceptance-with-Joy.'"


~ After collapsing in fear when she saw the tall precipice that she would have to climb next and choosing poorly for a short spell, Much-Afraid finally called for the Shepherd to come.  "She sat and looked at him and saw that he was smiling... The shame in her eyes met no answering reproach in his, and suddenly she found words echoing in her heart which other trembling souls had spoken.  "My Lord is of very tender compassion to them that are afraid.""


~ In Chapter 10, when Much-Afraid is nearing the top of the Precipice Injury, she finds another flower in the most barren rock landscape she's yet been in.  "Just then she looked up at the cliffs above her head and started with surprise and delight.  In a tiny crevice of the rock, where a few drops from the trickling waterfall could occasionally sprinkle it, was a single plant.  It had just two or three leaves, and one fragile stem, almost hairlike in its slenderness, grew out at right angles to the wall.  On the stem was one flower, blood red in color, which glowed like a lamp or flame of fire in the early rays of the sun... 
"What is your name, little flower, for indeed I never saw another like you."  
At that moment the sun touched the blood-red petals so that they shone more vividly than ever, and a little whisper rustled from the leaves.  
"My name is Bearing-the-Cost, but some call me 'Forgiveness'.... I was separated from all my companions, exiled from home, carried here and imprisoned in this rock.  It was not my choice, but the work of others, who, when they had dropped me here, went away and left me to bear the results of what they had done....I have borne and have not fainted;  I have not ceased to love, and Love helped me push through the crack in the rock until I could look right out onto my Love the sun himself.  See now!  There is nothing whatever between my Love and my heart, nothing around to distract me from him.  He shines upon me and makes me to rejoice and has atoned to me for all that was taken from me and done against me.  There is no flower in all the world more blessed or more satisfied than I, for I look up to him as a weaned child and say, 'Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire but thee.'"


Friends, I hope you'll be able to get your hands on a copy and that your heart will be as blessed and challenged as mine has been.  And if you do read it, I'd really love to hear your thoughts too!


*****
And a little PS-  This book might hit women better than men because it is written with fair emotion and the main character is a woman very full of emotion.  And it is good.... so good.  If you are at all in need of a gift for a woman in your life, I most highly recommend this gem.

And for more great words of today, Kevin DeYoung has just written some great challenges to my generation of Christians to fan into flame again a passion for beautifully holy lives.  Oh for more Much-Afraids today!

let's learn from what could have been

In this great post, written by Michael Oh, a guy we've never met, but are still delighted to call a friend, we are perfectly challenged to consider some helpful what if's:  some basic, real-world, sure-could-have-been situations.... and we are challenged to rightly respond, to apply some needed lessons to our lives.  May the Lord be glorified as we gratefully, joyfully take heed of these words for the sake of his praise, and real people, real lives today.

Capturing

I’ve heard from enough more experienced moms these words about enjoying our kiddos' little years.  It must be important.  I know it is... It must be worth some special attention because without it, these moments would probably fly by unmentioned and unremembered. What a loss that would be!

Some wise one also advised me before our wedding,  "Capture these moments.  Take pictures with your mind and in your heart."  Thank you, whoever you are.   I remember the birds were singing and the sky was bright as we said our vows and worshipped and slipped rings on each others fingers.  So grateful for that picture woven deep...

I don’t want to let these precious days pass by, these chapters of preschool vigor and virtue and bravery and beauty beyond any fairy tale I’ve ever read...  I don’t want them to slip away unappreciated, unnoticed, unrecognized for the tremendous gifts that they are, tremendous gifts from our Incredible Giver.  

Here are some of our recent moments to capture and gladly recount...

~ going down the slide backward

~ John's pat on the back when Isaiah slipped off his chair (that he had been rocking backwards in)


~ John coming up behind Isaiah inviting,  "Han(d)", and the big guy's pride in leading his little bro for a walk this evening.

~ her “piano solos” on the bunk bed ladder and accompaniment for her lively renditions of “Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be his holious name.”

~ John (17 months) bowing his head and mumbling “da da da...  A me(n).” and reaching for food.  Or sometimes, as soon as he’s put in his high chair he’ll skip the prayer and just announce “A me” and starting pointing for what he wants...


~ foam and taped-together plastic swords, more bravery displayed and a longer nap than usual for the hour + swordfight that our kids enjoyed with guests last night. 

~ Isaiah’s valor last week:  I didn’t want to load John in the stroller to walk the big kids to school when I realized he was quite ill.  So I bundled up the big two quick and left John strapped in the high chair as soon as I heard a neighbor kids’ voice downstairs.  I shot out of the elevator like a bullet, trying to chase down this nice grandma who was walking Marian’s classmate to school.  I was running, Isaiah (4.5) behind, Marian (3), in the tail, crying “Mama, don’t leave me!”  I stopped to reassure her, kissed her quick and took off again, little boy waiting alone in the high chair.  As we were running, my big- has he ever been bigger than this?-  boy yelled back “I’ll take care of you Marian.  Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you!”

~ her joy-filled laugh at the first feel of the swing beneath her.... the thrill of her voice, that victorious exhilaration 

~ our little guy’s insistence to snuggle on mama’s lap with a toy, his Moses bear (and the blanket that goes by the same name), and a cup of milk for those first groggy minutes post nap.... 

~ how that time today included a bite of orange cake for each of us and scripture memory work for mama to the tunes of Dora’s music player.  

~ the little one inside me, today giving my belly the feel of round ripening fullness.  Grateful for this stretching, this bursting new life inside me.  Much more distinct movements lately...  so excited to meet you, little one!

~ for Matt’s first feel of this baby’s movements....  and his cheer and pride and anticipation for this little one.

~ John’s snorty smile when he sees a new cup of milk being filled for him

~ and how he hasn’t figured out yet how to get around the blankets laid over the bunk bed ladder to deter his upward exploration

~ inspiration to grow in gratitude and enjoying every moment.  So grateful for this mentor who so faithfully inspires!

~ starfall.com and our two big kids who read aloud with the story

~ heat, we are mindful that so many here don’t have stable heat, or only heat that pollutes their homes and lungs.

~ a chance to help a friend in a special way that my mama helped me

~ a local friends’ inexpressible delight in her two foster kids (whom she’s loved and served for 14 and 15 years) who are severely handicapped: cannot speak, eat, go to the bathroom on their own.  She loves them and she radiates Christ’s joy as she lights up talking about them.  (She lives in a coal-heated home, where the rains wash over her floors when they fall hard.  Her husband is the leader of a small, rural fellowship of believers and their only regular income is what she earns helping us- washing dishes after guests and watching John- whom she also delights in- while mama studies.  They have very little in this world and they are so very, lastingly!, rich. Pure inspiration to us.)  (I can't believe I let another day slip by without snapping a pic of this beautiful friend.  Try, pregnant head, to remember!)

~ dinner in our home with super fun friends whose holiday last week reminds them of a need for sacrifice for sins... and the chance to proclaim The Perfect Sacrifice.

~ that I get to share my days, these children, this God, this life, with such a man as I’ve been given.  He truly is my best friend.  

missing in Thanksgiving?

I think this article is exquisite... such a needed piece for a truly full Thanksgiving.  For as much emphasis as there is on the pilgrims and their first harvest festivals- such a great thing to remember and honor at this time!- how helpful and good it is too, to understand this fuller setting behind this rich tradition.


In her article for the Boston Globe,  Eve LaPlante looks into the European roots of this American developed holiday and notes that in the beginning, days of thanksgiving never came alone.  They followed fast days of repentance and petition to God for help, rescue, favor.  LaPlante recounts much of the life of one of her own ancestors, Judge Samuel Sewall, who modeled well the characteristics of repentance and prayer and who she sets forth as a beautiful example of what we can pray might influence our country's leaders and our own lives today.

Thanks Dear!

I remember loving journals.... loving writing in a new, beautiful one.... from high school years.  My amazing man has gifted me with a new look for our online journal- right here!- as my Christmas gift a bit early.   I feel like I'm driving a Cadillac to have such a beautified blog!  Definitely not a NEED, but a delightfully received gift.


Thank you Darling!


And to Debi, at Blog Togs, it was a joy to work with you and have your brilliance create this new blog home for us.  Thank you so much!

our own brother

I just came across this post about Sayed Mossa, a Christian brother in Afghanistan who has been imprisoned since May and is scheduled for execution soon because of his faith in Christ, his conversion from Islam.    Greear, the author of the linked post, gives several excellent steps we can take to intervene for this brother and I urge you to take action as he suggests, as I have.


It reminds me of a prayer that was said before a meal one time, when Matt and I were joining friends for dinner in their home.  The father prayed "Lord bless the ones that are so dear to us."  Yes, yes and Amen.... And what of the ones that are so dear to Him?  The ones we don't know, have never met, who might not have food to eat tonight or might be facing execution next week for the Name of Christ?   The ones that he spilled his blood for?  How about we step up our prayers, our action on behalf of the ones that He loves....  they are our brothers and sisters too.


I am compelled, convicted, honored, and humbled to pray more, to do more... to do something!


Lord move us so, for the ones that you love!

a bundle of...

This bun that is half-risen in my belly (really, I have 20 more weeks to get bigger still!?) is a masterpiece.  An exquisitely precious bundle of countless prayers and thanks to God.  We could never wrap this little one up and call it done, but we'll try to put words to a few of the prayers and just a bit of the endless thanks we feel...


This life growing in me is a bundle of...


Thankfulness-  We do not take it for granted one moment that the Lord would give us a child, another child, like this.  Awestruck with Thanks.  


Wonder-  What an amazing thing that God does to create life in us, out of our love, like this.  Absolutely wonderful.


Joy-  We have never deserved a gift from God, this one included.  We are, assuredly unworthy and fantastically joyful recievers.


Gratefulness again-  Knowing the joy of parenthood already gives us a crystal picture of the joy (and struggles and prayers and good weariness) that lies ahead in this one.  


Expectation-  So fun to get to talk about this little one and stir together the flames of anticipation with our biggest two who are comprehending this little sibling with delightful clarity.  Who will K4 be?  So many dreams and questions and prayers...  


Prayer-  It is a breathtaking thing, the significance of pregnancy, the anticipation of birth.  We have been through it smoothly three times.  That is something that is honestly hard to think of when we consider how vast the possibilities are for difficulty and tragedy in this, and how some of those tragedies have touched lives so near  and so very dear to us.  (Our lives are not free of difficulty but our pregnancies largely have been- and we recognize this is enormous.)  From conception to well-past where we're at in this journey, parenthood is I believe- at least for me- the most humbling, emptying-me-of-strength, refining (and oh how I need this!) thread through my life.... and I feel like it's almost the only one sometimes.  Lots of refining, emptying, and grace strength needed and lots being poured in.  Grateful once again for such a requirement, such a driving demand to that most excellent work:  prayer. 


Trust & Humility- Courage to hope, to look ahead with peace, knowing that God will allow only what he will use for our good and for his glory is a desperate prayer of mine through every pregnancy.  Is there any time easier to worry?  Honestly with the possibilities here, stacked up with the hormones of pregnancy....  I've never been a better fretter.   This little one and all of me lay in my Father's hands....  the Master Potter.  Craft us as you will and give me trust and humility to know that You and all of your work is for our good.  


Eternity- Absolutely breathtaking it is to linger thoughts for a moment on the eternity begun in this life.  As we read from Matthew 6 about the treasures of earth being destroyed by moths and rust and thieves, I am overcome once more to know that this little life will go on for eternity.  Strikingly precious, enormously weighty, wonderful, eternal gift... Honestly, in my life I think I've heard far too little on how Christians should be lovers of life.  


Names- We took a long walk a week or so before our first was born rethinking our final decision on names.  I really wanted to honor my man's desire for names, but I just couldn't go through with that first choice. I got my pick and he's always kindly agreed to it.  For our second, I announced in a text message to friends something about "Praise the Lord for our beautiful daughter...." and I didn't tell her name.  It was his pick.  (I really love it now though- and I have always loved the Grandma behind it.) Our third was much easier and now we're up to #4.  I find myself thinking sometimes that we have another boy coming, and I like our boy name.  I'm confident for it and so is my man.  But our girls name, I am so in love with it that sometimes I hope that baby is a girl just so we can give this name to her. (Let alone the joy of having her.)


Balance?-  The gender question is a fun one almost daily for us.  Marian has the math all worked out correctly (shocking! and I don't remember helping her) to wonder if we'll be 3 and 3 or 4 and 2 (she counts mom and dad).   Matt and I know that we won't need even a second to adjust our hearts to either gender.  There will only be thrilled joy for knowing the Lord has chosen the perfect gift to add to our mix.  
    
     Matt and I, for the first time ever, really talked about maybe finding out the gender this time.  But it's also illegal to tell the gender here (because so many more baby girls would be aborted..... oh the horror.)    We could find out easily in the capital or possibly at a hospital across town, but now that we're here, we're chosing to go the birthday surprise route again.   


Siblings- I grew up in about as small a family as you can get.  It was me and my mom.  I sat on a friend's bed in 7th grade and marveled at the brothers and sisters that would tromp through her room, speak so comfortably (like an insider!) with her, tease her, love her.  Now I can't believe that I get to marvel at that same grace in my own children's lives.  Isaiah and Marian have kind of been stuck together since either of them was at a playable age (17 mo. apart).  But John... to see him have a choice of siblings to play with is absolutely incredible to me.   Magnificent!


Timing ~ Waiting-  It looks like a plan is shaping up for us for where we will go to give birth.  At least a month away from home waiting to meet this little one and get baby's passport before we head back.  With recent glimmers of what the next few months will probably hold for us, we are already looking forward to this month away as a time to be less busy and more involved in the simple, glorious, wonderfully exhausting work of growing this family... each of us in the Lord, and each together...  K4's due date has been moved back and back and back three times now.  This month away- cautiously, prayerfully placed around my possible due dates- will doubtless be a season of eagerness, waiting, and trying to rest our hearts in the One Who Knows.  We'll be eager to meet our little one and I'll bet we'll be itching to get back to our own home.  Another very good lesson of grace indeed.


And there's much more than just these few things wrapped up in this bundle... such a gift, so humbling, so exciting...

broken bones rejoice

Paul Tripp writes this excellent post (excerpts below) on rejoicing in God's grace even in the midst of difficulty.  Dear friends of ours linked to this article in a heart-crushing post on their blog, telling how they held "their" baby boy, met the mother who courageously gave birth to him, and then were shockingly turned away and sent home without this baby whom they had flown across the country to bring into their lives.


We love you and we are praying for you Matt and Laura.  We are praying these words will be made true in you and in us...


"If you’re confused about what God’s agenda is in your life, or if it doesn’t always seem like his promises are being fulfilled, then this strange little prayer from Psalm 51 is helpful and clarifying. In his psalm of repentance after his sin against God, Bathsheba, and Uriah, David writes this provocative little prayer, “Let the bones that you have broken rejoice.” 


"Although our greatest personal need is to live in a life-shaping relationship with the Lord, as sinners we have hearts that have a propensity to wander. We very quickly forget God and begin to put ourselves or some aspect of the creation in his place. We soon forget that he’s to be the center of everything we think, desire, say and do. We easily lose sight of the fact that our hearts were designed for him and that the deep sense of well-being which all of us seek can only be found in him.

We very rapidly forget or ignore the powerfully addicting dangers of sin and think we can step over God’s boundaries without personal and moral cost. We think we are stronger than we really are and wiser than we actually prove to be. We assess that we have character, discipline and strength that we don’t really have. So God, in the beauty of his redeeming love, will “break our bones.” He will bring us through difficulty, suffering, want, sadness, loss and grief in order to ensure that we are living in pursuit of the one thing that each of us desperately needs—him.

It’s time for each of us to embrace, teach, and encourage others with the broken-bone theology of uncomfortable grace. Because as long as each of us still has sin living in us, producing a propensity to forget and wander, God’s grace will come to us in uncomfortable forms. 

So, if you are God’s child, if you’ve ever prayed that God would be near you and would do what he has promised in and for you, then resist the temptation to doubt his goodness in the middle of your moment of stress. It’s time for you and me to stop thinking that we are going through difficulty because Satan is winning or God is punishing us. If you are God’s child and you humbly recognize and admit that the battle with sin still rages in your heart, then tell yourself that those difficulties are the sure sign of his rescuing and redemptive love."

downtown

We live in a magnificently cool city for history lovers, with the ancient city wall still surrounding the inner part of the city, protecting the neighborhood of one old dynasty's military headquarters.  To be sure, there are a plenty of fancy pants shops in the downtown district.... zillion dollar diamonds, purses and perfumes.  And then not more than a block or two walk away is this area that we love.


Here are a few shots, all from Matt.

By the way, our ecotour company is getting closer to launch day for the web site.  We'll link to it once it's up and you'll be able to see many more fantastic shots of local geography, people, cultures there.

the boy likes dirt

What can we do?  John has snuck at least three big mouthfuls of dirt in the past month or two.  Here's how the process went with dad last month...

the playground next door

I've mentioned before that I miss that we don't have a backyard to just throw open the door for the kids to play.  But if we did, we sure wouldn't have this beauty to play on there!  This place is so worth packing up the bat and balls and tromping a few minutes away to play at.  Only about 6-7 weeks ago we found this incredible playground tucked away in the back of the apartment complex next to us.  It's set up like a three story castle, seven slides! and ropes to climb,  and usually it's a really light crowd here.  We're so grateful for such a treat as this!

This is her "don't look at me" face... not very polite.... we're working on it.  

observing a lady bug on the slide