Jacob and Lydia: The Beginnings

There was a certain night that I knew was going to be special. It wasn't really very different than other nights we had gone out for dinner... but this time. Well, the day before had been a hell of an emotional roller coaster and this night was bringing the clearest sense of peace and belongingness that I hadn't felt... ever.

Biblical Horizons, 2015

Last week, July 20-24th, Mom and I had the privilege to attend the Biblical Horizons conference in Valparaiso Florida. It was a week long event that started at 8:30 in the morning and concluded at 8:30 in the evening after a long break during the afternoon. 

Our esteemed speakers this year were; Jeff Meyers, Uri Brito, Richard Bledsoe, Peter Leithart, and James Jordon

The topics considered this year were:

The Book of Joshua by James B. Jordon
Wealth Management in the Gospel According to St. Luke by Jeffrey J. Meyers
End of the End: Orientation to Revelation by Peter J. Leithart
The Christian Counseling Movement by Uri Brito
A look into psychiatric drugs based on experiences as a chaplain at his local hospital by Richard Bledsoe (This one didn't have a title so this is the best I could come up with)

I had a good time, and although the lectures were a little beyond me I did manage to glean some good counsel and being exposed to new ideas is almost always a good thing. I met new people and had good conversations in addition to spending some quality time with my mother. I learned new music as well at the nightly Vespers services both by singing and, although it wasn't planned, playing the music because their original pianist had to leave town suddenly. We ate lunches with people, spent time at the beach, did a little shopping, and stayed late in the evenings at the fellowships/meals/parties afterwards.

Although it might not be exactly descriptive of the conference itself, here are some pictures of our adventures during our breaks in the afternoons.

Road Trip with Grandma: Henry Ford Museum, Canada, Visiting Family

You may have heard this already but in case you haven't, my Grandma and I went for a road trip up to Detroit, Michigan. Grandma was keen on visiting family and I was looking forward to exploring the old places my Dad grew up in. I have been back for a while now but I haven't been able to find the time to write this post. Actually right now I really want to go to bed but I figured I had to get this out. In that light, this post won't be as detailed as I want but here we go.

Grandma and I left Wednesday, September 10 and stopped for the night in Kentucky. At one of the rest stops we saw a horse track with a bunch of people standing around. We didn't see any horses though just people and cameras. We arrived in Michigan the next day and stayed at a nice hotel in Troy, about thirty minutes from Detroit. Dad grew up in Royal Oak, between Troy and Detroit.

We're Adopting!

Today was the beginning of a totally new part of our lives. We're adopting four little boys! I know I haven't said anything on my Facebook account, or in person, or on the phone, but yes it's happening. Three months ago we started the adoption process - home study, meetings, Mom and Dad had to go through adoption classes, phone calls, paper work. Before we knew it, all the preparations were made and we just sat back and waited. Before we knew it, we were matched with these boys.

        Today the paperwork was signed and we were matched to the boys officially and today we met them for the first time. They came straight from daycare to our house. I was so worried before this that they wouldn't like us. I was afraid they wouldn't like me because I was so much older than them. They pulled in a mini van with the case workers and Mom, Dad, and Savannah went out to meet them. I realized Jubal wasn't with them so I looked and found him with his face buried in his pillow and his eyes squeezed tight. He has been so wild with excitement today about meeting his new brothers, he has been singing songs lately about getting more brothers. "Today my new brothers come!" he says. Well, now of course he was shy. I took him out to the back yard where everyone was. He clung to me and kept his face mashed against my shoulder with his eyes closed. It wasn't long though till he got brave and started to play with the boys.

Caroling at the Abortion Clinic

          This morning I woke much earlier than I usually do and went with Dad to sing carols and pray at the abortion clinic. I had never been there before today and the experience was not as I expected it to be. The innocent looking building sits behind the Hobby Lobby surrounded by equally non-descript vehicles, holding average looking people. The moon still glowed in the dark sky when we arrived at 6 am and a light wind made little chills scurry up my arms and around my shoulders. The same wind had more force further above and the wispy clouds furled around the moon.

            As I walked down the road towards the group of people who were there for the same reason as I, I was affronted by many signs with the faces of children, signs with pleas for woman to choose life, signs offering help and hope. Pastor Brito's voice swelled as he read the Word and Dad and I quietly slipped into the group.

            I didn't have time to think anything at first, in fact I tried not to, but soon the thoughts would press through.

PSAT

          Yesterday morning I got up at five-thirty to get ready to take the PSAT at Trinitas, a private Christian school. I started to wake up at 4:00 and woke up in intervals of thirty minutes until it was finally time to get up. I held up my phone and let the glow light the room. Jubal was sound asleep in his sleeping bag on the floor. During the night he had woken me up three times sleep talking and fussing. I crept around him and turned on the lamp. The morning went as I remember the early mornings in South Carolina when I went to a public school; just now I had a little more concern with my appearances than my nine year old self had back then. That's why there was a hurried hair washing that almost made us late. Details, details, anyways...

           Levi, back from Alaska, ate breakfast with me as he was coming along as well. As we two walked out the door Mom and Dad sent us off with well wishes. "Have a good time!" "Show those questions no mercy!" I answered "I won't!" and "Those questions aren't going to show me any mercy!" (Or something a little better than that. Just think of something clever and that is what I said.)
           I was definitely not ready for the test and was concerned about the math section; although I had no worries about the writing section. I had spent the day before studying and the day before that worrying myself and moping in my room. Levi on the other hand seemed confident with his academic ability.
           On the way there, to finish off our breakfast, we stopped at McDonald's and bought two bacon egg sausage mcgriddles in addition to one small coffee for myself. Levi and I enjoyed each others company and talked about nothings and laughed at silly old jokes from "back in the good ol' days". We often take to reminiscing with each other. It is good to have him back from Alaska. (Soon I will type up a report about all of that.) The morning was nice. A bit chilly for my taste but in reality most people would find it pleasant. When crossing over the bay I looked at the calm water and was pleased with the peachy color from the morning sun reflecting on its surface.

Canoeing the Blackwater

Saturday morning after a meeting at church we and some friends headed off for a fun day canoeing on the Black Water River. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Oh but first, I'll have to tell you how we started our trip. Mom Dad and Jubal were in the wobbly red canoe and not thirty feet after shoving off they ran into the bridge and the whole canoe flipped over! Jubal had on a life jacket and Dad grabbed him up immediately. At first he was scared but after reassurances he began to smile. After that baby brother rode with Levi, Savannah, and I instead in the Trailblazer. The canoe was loaded up with stuff. A water resistant bag with our phones and keys in it, a styrofoam bowl, the purple lunch cooler bag, Dad's jacket and then the paddle came floating down to us. Levi jumped out of the boat to help and Savannah and I went after the paddle which was quickly headed down river. The first sweep we missed but the second time we were able to grab it up. Our friends caught hold of some overhanging branches down river when they realized what had happened.

 

One thing we didn't realise was that it was 420. April twentieth a lot of people have parties and smoke a joint at 4:20 PM. The river was crowded with tons of people. Eventually we passed them all though.

Now here are some pictures.

 

Getting ready to shove off.

 

Wine and Psalm Roar 2013

I didn't take any pictures because I had forgotten my camera. This one was taken by Pastor Stout.

Click here to read what Pastor Uri wrote up about it.  :)

The Psalm Roar was last night, March 8. It was really great. I loved the singing. There was food and wine and plenty of laughs and smiles. We got home around ten o'clock that night. There were three churches that came together that night to sing praises.

Are We There Yet?

[Here is a collection of recent Facebook status's]

February 6, 2013

An answer to prayer today. It looks like we will be moving into a rental in Florida this Friday. I am a little nervous. Actually a lot. What does this imply for our lives? Is this God's leading? It is hard to tell since we were so grossly mistaken just a few months prior to this. But why was I praying for this in the first place if I am going to be doubtful of it now? I am excited about this though. It has been a while since we have had our own house. The questions is, will it be home? Sometimes I wonder, will this ever end? Will we ever know, or at least have a general idea of, what lies ahead? Surely God must be behind all of this - He never fails to have a reason or a plan. Tell me that there is no God? Well then I would go mad if I ever were to believe it.

"All things must work together for my [continued] salvation." [addition mine]

Like this rental house in Florida. My life needs salvation not just my soul. If this is going to be part of my life, it will be part of God's salvation and His blessing in my life.

Arizona: Part One

Wednesday, September 12
This was the day I left Missouri, the last time I would see it, or anybody in it, for at least two years. That morning my younger brother and I went to our neighbors house before school so I could say goodbye to them. They live in the same house we used to rent right after our house burned down so its kinda funny to see other people using the house. When we got there only the mom and the oldest daughter was awake but news quickly spread that we were here so the other children got up. The oldest girl was wearing regular clothes, a skirt and a T-shirt. We talked a lot and we got to help milk their cow. I am not very good at that, I've done it maybe about four times. It made my arms and wrists sore so I didn't do it very long. After we milked the cow we headed back inside and they got ready for school. The girls became Mennonites when they put on their dresses and caps. They are not really but they go to the Mennonite school. We left at breakfast and carried out a gallon of milk with us.

Black Water River Florida

March 9-11, 2012 is when we took this canoe trip. :)

So my grandma lives in Alabama real close to Florida. We wanted to go canoe camping and we chose the Black Water River in Florida, not far away, about an hour and a half. We had tons of gear packed, it is easy to carry a bunch of stuff in canoes. But still, I was worried it wouldn't all fit. I thought it might weigh the boats down too much and make them tippy.

I was in charge of packing food this time. Before I've always helped Mom with the food preparations on our camping trips, I've never done it myself so it was a challenge. At the very end Mom helped out and added in extra food, like a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly, and things for coffee.

Our family is not know for it's speed. In fact I think we're known to always be at least thirty minutes late. So not surprisingly, we had decided to try to get in the boats around ten o'clock in the morning. We made it to the river at three in the afternoon. Not bad I must say with all the extra stops we made on the way. ;)

This is one of Mom's favorite places. Stuckeys.

An Appreciation Meal for the Right to Life Volunteers

Today we went to an appreciation dinner with Grandma. She volunteers with the Right to Life effort and they were having a banquet for all those who volunteer.



Water's Edge and Outback Cooking

The meal was at lunch time, they rented out space in a really cool old fashioned lodge themed restaurant. There were round tables all over the room with chocolates in the center. People filled the large room and the whole place hummed loudly with talking. Some people were busy setting up the sound and screen and others were getting boxes full of  papers set out on some tables. We were greeted by a lady wearing purple, Grandma signed in and we set our things at one of the tables.

It's a Nice Day for a Walk

...After church my brother and I walked home because we didn't want to go to town. (On errands) From church to our house is fifteen miles. We walked and walked and walked. On the shortcut road right off of the main road a man was digging a hole. He wore a red shirt and sunglasses; I think he was planting a bush. My brother asked if we could have a drink from his faucet.
     "Go right on ahead. There's one by the house and the shop."
         We went to the one by the house. Big brother let me go first so I stuck my head under the running water and got wet everywhere. He did the same then I had another drink and so did he.
     "Thanks," we called as we continued walking.
    When we got to the next I convinced brother to call his friend, who lived a little up the road, and see if he could take us the remaining five miles. He said he couldn't because his car was parked right outside his parents window and they were taking a nap. So eventually we got to their house and the boy ran out to meet us. We stopped in for a drink. My brother went downstairs with his friend and I stayed upstairs and talked to the two younger brothers. Their parents woke up and the mother offered me a piece of chocolate cake.
      The youngest piped up, "I made it."
    We stayed a few minutes longer while my brother and I ate our cake then we left. I put my sandals back on and we continued on our way.
    The last four miles to the house was a breeze, we got there in no time. I changed into some soccer shorts and a T-shirt, took care of Dixie, and made grilled sandwiches for our dinner. My brother went out and checked on his plants in the greenhouse and we finally sat down. I drank a glass of cold tea and he had water.

~An old farmer who passed us on the road and he slowed down and we talked. One of the things he said was "Well, it sure is a nice day for a walk today."~