Preparing with Patience

It has begun! I started painting a tree on the baby room wall. Some might think this task is a little over ambitious, especially for an accountant non-artistic type. My sister got all of the creative ability in the family, and is actually an amazing artist, but she consumed all the artsy DNA before I was born and left none for me. I’m also one of those people who think everything SOUNDS easy, I think big and just go for it. Sometimes I’m successful (I’ve built a volcano for VBS) and other times it falls flat (I tried helping Randy carry a refrigerator up 2 flights of stairs, thankfully a neighbor stepped in after the first flight, the refrigerator is in our kitchen, with only a few scratches). I think this project is one of the easier ones I’ve undertaken, especially with my “expertise” at mural painting. The company I work for has a yearly community service day and the past 2 years I’ve helped paint murals at elementary schools. It’s really just paint by numbers, but I learned proper brush stroke technique and how to paint the lines with a nice crisp edge, kinda. I also figured we could just paint over it if it looks terrible, but thankfully I’m happy with the progress so far. I’ll post pictures when I’m done, but it might be awhile as it is taking much longer than I anticipated.

Vanessa with two friends from work

and their mural in the background

 



As I begun painting I realized how relaxing and enjoyable it was to do something pretty mindless. With each brush stroke I started praying over the room and for our little baby who might be in this world or will be soon. I prayed for their safety, God’s protection and that they would join our family soon. I also prayed for Randy and I as parents – that we would honor God in our parenting and raise our children to love him above all else. That we would parent out of faith and not fear. Preparing the baby room makes parenting feel that much closer, which is both exiting and scary. Parents impact their children, both positive and negative. Little feet will be following us wherever we go, repeating the things we say, mimicking our actions. Our children will watch and learn from our love for one another, how we treat strangers and our response in hardship. It makes me realize all the more the importance of pursuing to reflect Christ daily. I know I will fail, I often do, but thankfully we have a savior that is bigger than my failure, mightier than my flaws and who’s power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). And because of that, I pray.

Matthew 6:9-13, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” Amen.

Number 7!

The Lord has been amazing to us this month! We have been blessed through financial support, prayers and tons of encouragement. We have moved up to number seven on the infant waiting list with our agency! That's five spots in one month, so we just keep praying for the right child in God's timing. Please continue to pray for us, and if you haven't had a chance, we invite you to join in completed a beautiful adoption puzzle. Click the "Support our Adoption" link on the left for more info. Thank you and many blessings!

All In!

Our God is an amazing God. There is no way around it, He simply is. Last week, we had the honor of accompanying 55 high school students up the mountain to Hume Lake Christian Camp, near King’s Canyon on the Sequoia National Park. Every year, I look forward to my “vacation” at Hume, knowing that I will get to see God move in the lives of young people. This year was no exception.

The theme for camp this year was “All In” and the teaching was on the story of young David during his time of flight from Saul before being crowned king. I could write all day about what an amazing job the Hume staff does in presenting the gospel in a compelling, relevant and accurate way, but the true hero is that of our God because it is by His grace that dozens of kids from our group made decisions or rededications to be “All In” for Christ.

I liken my week at Hume to a much-needed shower after several weeks of camping (maybe because we all could have used them at camp). Last year, we had such an amazing summer with Haiti and camp, but during the year, we get covered in the filth of life, off track and in the weeds, but spending a week devoted to worshiping God, fellowshipping with believers, reading His word and pouring all of me into the lives of students, I return to the world refreshed and made new.

Unfortunately all good things must end, and so must the mountaintop experience. Now begins the difficult journey of remaining plugged in to God’s will. Pastor Shane Moss shared that we discover God on the mountain, but we experience real growth in the valley. We are so blessed and encouraged by what the Lord did at Hume, pumped for the student ministry that He has placed us in, and refueled to disciple those to whom we have been entrusted. Thank you Lord, I am All In!