Memphis

 

 One of our least favorite parts of road trips is never being able to stay long enough or being able to see everybody.  We just try to enjoy every minute.  So when we arrived in Memphis, our first stop was a "drive-by", just long enough for hugs from a dear friend and adopted grandparent.

Then we drove over to see Aaron's Dad and Mom #2



who treated us to supper at Benihana's.  We'd never experienced anything quite like this!



This morning, we left Memphis with our tummies full of yummy biscuits and gravy and our hearts full of love.



 

Next stop, Kentucky...

Conway

 

One of the best things about our March 2013 Road Trip is that we have to drive right through the towns where our parents live.

 



So Tuesday night we got to spend the night with Aaron's mom and dad #2 and hang out with them for a while. 

 



I had already warned the kids that I had really missed Spring while we were in the Solomon Islands.  We've been pretending (fake forsythias just aren't the same) for four years,

 

 

 

and now I am thoroughly enjoying the daffodils, japonica, tulips, forsythia, everything that screams Spring to my Southern heart.

 



Aaron's mom had a yard full of beautiful and fragrant daffodils that thrilled me!

 



Friends and Colleagues

We love our small branch at SITAG (Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group).  Not only are the members well-educated and fabulous at their jobs, they are also good friends.

 



 

The first day of our March 2013 road trip, God worked out the timing so that our SITAG boss and wife were in Arkansas for their son's wedding.  We finally got to meet the rest of their family and spend some time with them as they graciously served us lunch in the midst of a busy week of wedding planning.

Thanks, Wycliffe Associates!

Our family enjoyed the chance to say thank you to some Wycliffe Associates this morning.  They have made such an impact in the Solomon Islands and in the lives of our family.  In the Solomons, we have seen WAs build, sew, paint, teach children, learn to cook local food just like our neighbors, type, and attend piano recitals and birthday parties (all while sweating profusely).  We love Wycliffe Associates!

Texas Woman's Daybook

Just for today...Sunday, March 3, 2013

 

Outside my window...leaves are about to break out and one mockingbird always practices loudly at a certain corner of my exercise route

 

On my bookshelf... "The Song Forever New:  Lent and Easter with Charles Wesley" by Paul Wesley Chilcote

 

Noticing that...employing a pastry sous-chef leads to lots of cute toe prints when cutting in the butter

 

 

 

A heart of thankfulness...for so many things.  Friends who find a way to stay in touch in spite of the busy pace of life and my truly marvelous husband and children have to top the list today.

 

Pondering these words... "We settle for quasi-commitment, which produces quasi-contentment."  ~Lydia Brownback

 

From the kitchen...I tried a heart shaped coffee cake this morning from "The Great Holiday Baking Book" (because any day is a good day to tell your family that you love them).  Breakfast was delicious, but not pretty.

 

  

From the mobile learning room...the opening of the Suez Canal and the composition of "Aida"; a new math book for Olivia, Sarah's learning about the rate of change & slope in algebra, & lots of other fun stuff as we drive around several different states this week

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...we get to go tell the Wycliffe Associates in Dallas "thanks" tomorrow morning, spend the morning in the archiving department, and eat lunch with students interested in learning more about serving in the Pacific.  Tuesday, we leave for a twelve day road trip to share with some churches and see some amazing family and friends.

 

A peek into my corner of the world...spur-of-the-moment lunch guests today!

 

Since we live in the middle of the church parking lot, we get to see everyone leaving after church.  As we waved to some friends, they commented how good our lunch smelled (yay for crock pots and open windows!), so we invited them to stay and enjoy it with us.

 



What a sweet time with this family who is getting ready to go overseas with Wycliffe Bible Translators to serve in the IT department.  Smart guys like him keep the rest of running smoothly!



 

This week has felt so good because we've been back to "normal" life for a few days before we leave town again.  We had a surprise phone call early in the week from a friend we haven't seen since our Pacific Orientation Course in 2008.  Loved catching up with her one afternoon!  Such a camaraderie exists among those who have served overseas.



 

 Later in the week, we enjoyed more of that camaraderie with others who have also spent time overseas.

 

I love how God gives us "aunts", "uncles", "cousins", and "grandparents" to fill in during those times when our own families aren't nearby.



March will be a little bittersweet because this precious family heads back to the Solomon Islands in a few weeks.  This afternoon, we drove over to their house to visit, I mean, help out.



 

We're enjoying every minute we have with them. 

 

 

And getting a little work done while we're at it.



Still Surrounded

God continues to surprise and amaze and surround me by His love.  After almost four solid days of the Global Impact Celebration, I discovered I knew one of the other missionaries!  It didn't take long before we were asking about each other's families and feeling like we had walked into a family reunion.

 

 

Last night's service began with our hand bell choir playing "Here Am I, Lord".  Aaron and I love having the opportunity to participate with this group.  We can't do this in the Solomon Islands.

 

 

Then the youth choir (including Sarah) led us in worship and prepared our hearts for

 



 
 
 an encouraging (and funny) interview of one of our own church members who just radiates with God's love and another encouraging and convicting sermon.

 

 

But the best part of the night for me?  The invitation.  The missionaries had been asked to line up to be able to counsel anyone who might come down.  It's still awkward to me to be set apart as a missionary, and I was really exhausted, but I was willing to stand up front.  After a few minutes, I felt a tug at my arm and turned to find two precious ninth grade girls at my elbow.  I asked what I could for them and their answer reduced me to tears.  "We just want to know how we can be praying for you."  Wow.  Definitely still surrounded.

Surrounded

"We are surrounded by the walls of God's salvation....You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock....
our heart's desire is to glorify your name." 
from Isaiah 26

The last few days have found us surrounded.  Surrounded by amazing people who serve the Lord around the globe in many different ways.  Surrounded by encouragers and prayer partners in our church.

 



Surrounded by stories of God's love and faithfulness everywhere.  Surrounded by scripture that convicts and worship that draws us into God's presence.

 



 

We are supposed to be sharing about the ways we get to serve the Lavukal and the people of the Solomon Islands, but we're finding that we are learning so much in the divine appointments God had already set up.  We are supposed to be pouring out to this church, but we find ourselves being filled back up.

Texas Woman's Daybook

Just for today...Tuesday, February 19

 

Outside my window...the ladybugs are out in the back yard.  I think spring is on its way.

 

 

 

I am hearing..."I come broken to be mended, I come wounded to be healed, I come desperate to be rescued, I come empty to be filled", but just inside my own head.  Love this twist on an old hymn, and since I'm feeling pretty worn out after our trip, the lyrics describe me perfectly.  Okay, they describe me perfectly every day.

 

Praying for...my kids.  Everyone is out of sorts from the trip and returning to "real life" has led to some tears and unkind words today (Mama included). 

On my bookshelf..."The Poker Bride:  The First Chinese in the Wild West" by Christopher Corbett.  A fascinating complement to our history studies.  Unfortunately, I left a bag in Kansas City, and it had the book inside, so I'm having to wait for the box my amazing sister mailed to me.
 

Noticing that...bifocals aren't as bad as everybody says they are!

 

 

One of my favorite things...the small hallway in my sister's house.  We all added our handprints last week to the many prints of friends and family already on the walls.

 

 

A heart of thankfulness...for all of the amazing people who made time to spend with us last week.  God has placed "tons" (as Katherine would say) of people in our lives, and we have so much to learn from them.

 

I am creating...table displays and "lectures" about the Solomon Islands to share this weekend

 

Pondering these words..."God is the only real remedy for our unhappiness, and he knows that the things to which we cling for comfort are actually robbing us of blessing....God always works to free us from the tactics we use to avoid dealing with hard things."  ~ Lydia Brownback

 

 

From the kitchen...quiche this morning for breakfast, cream of broccoli soup and "toasty cheese" for lunch, and apple pork chops, spinach soufflé, harvest vegetable medly, cloverleaf rolls, and a cherry cheesecake roll for supper.  It's nice to be home and cook again, and I have a great kitchen staff to work with me at the Choate Bed and Breakfast.

 

From the learning rooms...composer Johannes Brahms.  Be still my heart.  And Harriet Beecher Stowe along with the Crimean War, but Brahms is way more fun.  Also some fun experiments with how much room hot water takes up vs. cold water and dissolving chicken bones in vinegar.  The kids get Friday off.

 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...our church's missions conference begins Thursday and runs through Sunday.  We're so excited that we get to participate this year!

 

A peek into my corner of the world...an impromptu trip to the Dallas Zoo yesterday.

 

 

Being friends with colleagues blesses our family!

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday evening, we arrived in Tulsa to stay with this very brave family.  With nine kids ranging from ages five to seventeen plus four adults, the Chew's beautiful house was full of the sounds of laughter and the smells of good food to feed the crowd.  We enjoyed going to church with them at Tulsa Bible Church and the time to get to know them better.   An e-mail from this sweet friend always arrived at the right time when we were in the village, and we are so thankful for their prayers, encouragement, and support as we serve the Lavukal in the Solomon Islands.

Co-laborers

Late Friday night, our friends, the Conards, joined us in Wichita.  This family fills many roles in our lives. 



Since we met in 2004 (with a lot fewer kids!), they have encouraged us with their generous hearts and listening ears.  Their thoughtfulness shows up exactly when and exactly in the form in which we need it.

 



 

They not only partner with us to serve the Lavukal, but they make sure we stay encouraged through e-mails and care packages when we live in the Solomon Islands.

 



They are true co-laborers in Christ. "God's bright presence" shines in their lives, and He gets all the credit.



 

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything – encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” (I Peter 4:7-10 MSG)



Drive-By

 

 

Last Thursday night, we pulled into Kansas City and got to spend a few minutes with my sister who had a 15-minute break from work.  I'll take a "drive-by" visit any day because it means I'm close!

 

We love the Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project.  If you are on Facebook, you can "like" them and receive updates (like their gumball ceremonies).  Thursday, we had the honor of meeting somebody who has been praying for the Lavukal since 1992.  We stopped in Des Moines for some delicious Thai food in a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant and enjoyed sweet fellowship with this retired linguistics professor who plays the violin and viola.  Think these two have anything in common?!?