Not a Mirage...

I can't really think of Grace's birthday without my thoughts going back to her birth. Grace's delivery is one that I still tell people about, because hers is a funny story. Grace is our third child and I knew enough from my previous birthing experiences to know that once “pushing” begins, my babies come quickly. So, at the urging of my nurse when I was fully dilated , I began to push (even though I told her that this was a BAD idea). I gave one good push, and there she was! Ready to make her entrance into the world! The nurse squalled for me to stop pushing (have you ever tried that??? Practically impossible!) and yelled for Dennis to pull the emergency cord in the bathroom. My doctor came running down the hallway, licking Doritos cheese off of her fingers! She barely got the gloves on when Grace, in all of her glory, came plopping out. And this is how my Grace came into this world~ in one big burst of chaos.

Grace was a welcomed surprise from the beginning. You see, I became pregnant with her about a month after my sister died. I was in the middle of overwhelming grief. Preventing a pregnancy was just not on my radar. When I discovered that I was pregnant, it was exactly the gift that I needed to help me realize that life goes on--even after loss. Because we knew that it was by God's grace that we were having another baby at such a time, choosing her name was easy. She was a picture of grace.

Grace was the most wonderful baby. I already had my hands full with Caleb and Hannah who were only three and two years old when she was born. I was thankful that she fit so easily into our family. I think that is how third babies roll! (ok, I should admit right now that I am third child, therefore a little biased.)

She has grown into a beautiful young lady! Sweet sixteen never seemed a more appropriate term than speaking of my Grace. Grace lives up to the “middle child” characteristic of being a peace maker. She is so good at being friends with everyone. She might choose sides in a family squabble, but you would never know it. She gives everyone their due respect, and each and everyone of us loves her for it. I truly see Jesus in her~ living His love out everyday by the way that she loves and serves in our household.

But there's not just her love...she is a smart-witted girl. She has a sassy sense of humor and can come back at you with a wise crack in the blink of an eye! She loves to read, draw and take pictures, which is a talent and a hobby that we have all just recently had the pleasure to discover.

So, my Grace...on this your sixteenth birthday... know how much you are adored by your mom and dad. We are so thrilled to see you grow into such a lovely young lady. We look with great hope and expectation to all that God is going to do in your life and through your life. This little bit of chaos that is my life just wouldn't be the same without you, babe.

Happy birthday sweet Peach!

I love you!

~Mama

Thought that our readers might like to see some of her photography. Here is a sampling of my favorites:

Awwww!  Then...

Now...

19 years ago today.  My life changed forever. He was a happy surprise but one in which I was very ill-prepared. Caleb came earlier than expected, in more ways than one.  I was only twenty and nowhere near ready to become a mother.  He was delivered after 35 weeks due to the onset of toxemia.  The doctors assured me that the two amniocentises that were given to check his readiness confirmed that he was going to be fine.

And yet, there he lay. Quiet. Not breathing. The doctors worked on him until I heard the slightest noise. He was whisked away without me getting to even hold him.  The next day was my very first Mother's Day.  I grew up in an instant.

Fast-forward fifteen years. I am in another hospital room. Again, he is quiet. Unusually so.This boy who loves to climb a hundred feet high in trees, play in the mud, rock climb and fish all day is now on the brink of death.  I plead with God not to take him.  I cannot imagine my life without him; this once sweet little boy who is on his way into adulthood. And this moment changes both of our lives.

For Caleb, it is the beginning of a health nightmare that threatens to rob him of all of his favorite activities. For me, it is the realization that I might love my children too much. So much, that I dare God to take him. Thankfully, God spares his life in spite of me. I am reminded of Abraham as I sit in that small room. And I am reminded of my Father, who willingly gave His Son for me. My faith is so weak.

So here we are...on his nineteenth birthday, having no clue what his future might hold. I believe that God has huge things around the corner for Caleb. I believe that God will use these struggles to embed in him a faith that can move mountains. And as Caleb searches for his next step, Dennis and I will support him and pray for him. We will encourage him to walk hard in his pursuit of God. 

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.  1 Timothy 4:12

Though You Are Grown  

 by: Cynthia A. Sieving

I remember years ago,

you were so little then.

Sometimes,

I can't help but wish,

that you were small again.

I've cried when you've faced heartaches,

and saw, that as you grew,

nothing broke your Spirit,

instead it strengthened you.

I'm filled with mixed emotions,

as I hold back all the tears

and, with much pride remember,

back so many years.

When I first held you in my arms,

if only I'd have known,

the years would feel like moments,

after you had grown.

You aren't a child,

though in my eyes,

I guess you'll always be,

that baby boy who changed my life,

and means the world to me.

Happy Birthday, my Caleb. I am in your corner on my knees. I am so thankful for you and for the young man that you are becoming. I love you.

~ Mama

“The greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It needs no furlough and is never considered a foreigner.” - William C. Townsend

A man watches his pear tree, day after day, impatient for the ripening of the fruit. Let him attempt to force the process, and he may spoil both fruit and tree. But let him patiently wait, and the ripe pear, at length, falls into his lap.  ~Abraham Lincoln

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.

~Martin Luther

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.

~ Martin Luther

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither.  

Psalm 1:1-3

Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD,

for he comes to judge the earth.

1Chronicles 16:33

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

~posted by Kelli

I found this little story about a missionary family and wanted to share it with you:

"As we were preparing to return to Papua New Guinea in 1997, we heard about the drought that had hit the country due to the effects of El Nino. A drought in the tropical rain forest? It was jokingly said by some people that PNG had two seasons - wet and wetter. I had to see the drought to really believe it.

Flying over the countryside on our way up to Wycliffe's center of operations at Ukarumpa, the evidence was right before my eyes. The trees looked like brown clumps. The grass that covered hillsides that was usually lush and green was parched looking. Driving on the dirt roads, the vehicle sent up a choking cloud of dust. A haze from burning bush fires was in the air. I saw it with my eyes, but it didn't really sink in till we went to a friend's house for supper that night. After a lovely meal and catching up on our lives, I helped our hostess with the dishes. When the dishes were all washed, she carefully took the dishpan and went outside to dump the precious water on the plants. Then I knew it was real.

We were soon back in Pari village to take up work with the Kuman people again. We wondered what life had been like for them during this difficult time. While they had not been as severely affected by the drought as other parts of the country had been, they were short on food. Their staple crop, sweet potato, was almost gone. We did what we could to help, buying our family rice. While they were thankful, our village mother confessed to me that they truly missed eating sweet potato. To imagine this, think what our life would be like if we couldn't eat any bread at all for months.

The prayer on every one's lips was for God's gift of life giving rain. Walking through the village, I would think about water. At night, I would imagine the sound of it on the tin roof.

One day the children and I were visiting my friend Gambogl and her children. We were sitting in the shade of a tree outside her house. After climbing the tree, one of her sons returned to offer us some beautiful, juicy mangoes. I was astonished. I had never noticed that it was a fruit bearing tree before! She told us that the tree had never borne fruit, but since the drought came it had fruited and was God's special gift to their family to help them get through this difficult time. Mango trees don't grow well in the mountains. It is usually too wet for them to do anything. Someone had planted it a long time ago, never realizing that many years later at just the right time it would be a blessing to people who very much needed its fruit."

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

I think that I will just let this story sink in a bit.      For you and for me.

I always think that I know what I need when I need it. I'm not always ok admitting that God knows much better than me.  So, when tempted to know my need and expect God to deliver it when I need it, I need to be reminded that His ways are higher than mine.

And...while I'm waiting...I'll cut up a mango and enjoy.

~posted by Kelli

Also, I like to credit authors whenever I can, but this was an anonymous story. If anyone out there knows who the author is, feel free to contact me so that they can receive proper credit. Love this story of God's provision!

Again, we thank you for coming out! We are so blessed to have you as friends!

 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:1-5

Oooo! Ooo! Me! Me! Send me, Lord!! Screaming and jumping up and down...I must go tell others. For once I had been touched by the Lord and I knew that my sins were paid for, there was nothing else that I would rather do. To stay here in my complacency would be tragic. 

Lord, prepare me to go. Lord, provide a way for me to go.

Here am I; send me.

I must go.

~posted by Kelli