"Lord, I Have You"

"There's a roof up above me, I've a good place to sleep, There's food on my table, And shoes on my feet, You gave me Your love, Lord, And a fine family, Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me." These words have echoed through my head over the last few days. So many things are going on in our world. The signs of the times are everywhere - from the drug wars in Mexico, to the uprisings in the Middle East, to the newest catastrophe of an earthquake, tsunami, and radiation fears in Japan.

Last week, we received heart-wrenching news that two brothers who lived in our children's home were the latest victims of the drug wars in Mexico. We have mourned their deaths and wished we could be back there for the other brother who had to identify them. We loved these boys like all the others, just as if they were ours. We did everything we knew to do to help them live godly lives after they professed Christ as Saviour. Or did we? As with all "children", whether blood or adopted or just growing up in your home, you always look back and wonder what else you could have done. In the end, the decisions they make are up to them as they get older, good or bad. All you can do is pray they will do what is right. So many of them have done well. They have gone to college, gotten married, had children, and have jobs to support their families. We thank God for the opportunity we had to be in each boy's life and we are proud of them. We are thankful also that we are still able to keep to in touch with many of them.

The devastation of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been absolutely unfathomable. To see the pictures and videos, it is almost like watching something out of a movie. Unfortunately, it is all for real. Now, more than ever, am I thankful for all I have. I am not waiting in long lines for the necesities of life. I know where my family is and I know they are safe. I haven't lost all. Yet, more saddening than all this, is the hard truth that many of these people also have no hope as they do not know Christ as their Saviour. A missionary friend of mine living there gave these statistics:

"The areas affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki are some of the most spiritually needy places in Japan. With over 4.9 million people, yet only about 9,000 active Christians (0.15%). Fukushima has the lowest average worship attendance with only 19 per church. There are one city and 44 towns with no church. There are 86 missionaries assigned to these prefectures. One town in Ibaraki has over 46,000 people with no church and several others have over 24,000 people with no churches. Average attendance for all the churches in Japan is the lowest in the Fukushima prefecture. Ibaraki prefecture has the least number of people claiming to have any religious beliefs."

These people clearly need the Gospel, as do many others in the world, but these people have been thrown into our attention because of what they are suffering. Please pray for these people in Japan. It isn't over! There is still a lot of suffering and pain and with the situation of the nuclear reactors, it could get worse. When something isn't exactly going easy or "my way," I remind myself of all that I have to be thankful for and remind myself to say "Thank you, Lord ... I have You" and "thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me."

Love, Love, Love

What a wonderful Valentine's Day we had! We spent the day at the beach!!! Randy's Dad and Mom flew in last week and after a few days of "rest", we went to the beach for some time together. Needless to say, after the snow and ice that went through Oklahoma and Texas not so long ago, Randy's parents were happy to be in some warmer weather!

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband. This year, we will celebrate 14 years of marriage! It doesn't seem like it has been that long. I am so thankful to have a husband who follows the Lord. It is amazing to think back on all the different things God has brought us through. And, even more amazing to see where He has brought us! There are very few dull moments when you are married to a missionary! It is such a blessing to serve the Lord with my best friend. We have experienced some unbelievable things during our marriage. I am so thankful that the Lord put us together. I have enjoyed being Randy's "help meet" and I look forward to spending many more years with him, serving the Lord together.

A Little Miracle

Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." This verse always comes into my mind every time I see a newborn baby. Last week, this verse held an even deeper meaning as I "met" a new little baby named Alissa. A sweet couple in our church, Wat and Amanda, have been blessed with a little miracle, born three months ahead of schedule. She was born a week ago today (January 19) and she weighed 1 pound and 13 ounces and measured 13 and 1/2 inches long. I stood in awe of God's creation as she lay in her little bed. 10 fingers, 10 toes, everything so perfect and yet so tiny. This innocent little miracle has been placed into our world early for a reason that, for now, only God knows. Wat and Amanda have been given a strength and grace that only God can give. The doctors say that Alissa is growing stronger every day. She is only using her respirator at 30% and they estimate that in 2 weeks, she will no longer need it. Her parents are thrilled because they know that at that point, they will be able to hold their precious little daughter. Please pray for all of them. They need a renewed strength every day. Amanda is now home from the hospital so they are making trips back and forth every day to spend time with Alissa. Please pray for their safety as they travel. Also, Wat is finishing his last semester of college so pray that he can remain focused on his studies. God's power is being witnessed by all who attend to Alissa. Maybe her little life will have an eternal effect on someone else who is watching.

To find out how Alissa is doing, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyalissa. Her parents created this website page through Caring Bridge in order to keep people informed of her progress. Please keep them in your prayers!!!

Busy as Bees!

Our year got off to a quick start! We are all trying to adjust to new schedules with school. The children start their classes at 8 a.m. so that they can get most, if not all, of their school work done by the time Randy and I leave for school. We have a very tight schedule but thankfully we know this is only a temporary situation! Randy and I leave for class on Monday and Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. when the Nanny arrives. If the traffic isn't too bad, we are able to get a quick lunch on the way. When our class is out at 3 p.m., he goes on to another school for several hours while I go home. It is usually about 5:30 p.m. when I arrive home to make sure the children get supper before their Thai class and then have them bathed and in bed by 8:30 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Randy leaves in the morning around 8:30 and is in school until the evenings. Depending on his classes, he is usually home around 9:30 p.m. On Fridays, Randy and I have class like on Monday and Wednesday. We both come home from school together on Friday because Randy teaches an English and Bible class that evening at the church where we attend. Saturday we have a free day to spend with the children. We try to get all the school work caught up and do something fun together before Randy has to teach another English and Bible class. On Sunday morning, Randy teaches English and Bible during Sunday School and then we go to the regular morning service together. Sunday afternoon we rest and get ready for the week ahead. I know, this is a very scheduled week but it is for a greater purpose. As our Thai gets better, we will be able to "let up" some on this schedule and have more time at home. We praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives. Although it may be difficult, it doesn't compare to the "difficult" He went through for us. We are thankful to be able to serve Him in whatever capacity we can. Please pray for us as we go through this time of learning. May the Lord find us faithful. As Paul asked the saints in Ephesus, we also ask that you pray for us, "that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," Ephesians 6:19

Reflecting

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! The last few weeks have been full of fun, new traditions, and very warm temperatures. As we prepared for the "big day", we took turns taking the children out shopping with us. Surprisingly, in several stores there was English Christmas music playing! Outside the big malls, there were decorations and lights. The children (along with a few of their American friends) had the opportunity at church to do a short narrative of what the decorations on a Christmas tree mean. A few days before Christmas, they were able to "perform" the same narrative inside one of the largest malls in Southeast Asia as well as one of the department stores inside of it. They were so thrilled to have the chance to do this! They did a very good job.

On Christmas Eve, a group of people from the church went out caroling and came by our house to sing Christmas songs. I think the highlight of making it "feel" like Christmas was being able to take the children (Thanks to the help of some very sweet friends!) on the skytrain to one of the malls that was decorated for the holidays. There were many lights and decorations, and an oversized "snow globe" that we were able to get inside of to take a picture!

This year, Christmas Dinner was very different as there were just the 7 of us! We had grilled chicken instead of turkey! After lunch, we took the children to the park so they could ride the bicycles they got for Christmas! What a difference to have 85 degree weather on Christmas Day! And, what a blessing it was to be together as a family. God allowed many new things to happen in our lives this year but I think one of the biggest blessings for me is that none of us are sick with illnesses. For the first time in 9 months, we all have runny noses, coughs, and something similar to the flu, but we are mostly over that now. But, as far as serious problems, we are free of those. To have five children and to be able to say that is truly a blessing! God has watched over us over the last year. As I have been reflecting over all that has happened in the last year, a verse came to mind: Psalm 23:6a - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Even during the times when I haven't had the right attitude or haven't been as faithful to God in things as I should have been, God has allowed good things to happen and His mercy has surely been poured out on me! How wonderful to know that He is always there with us, guiding and leading, even if the path is unknown to us. All praise to Him Who knows where the path will lead and what lies ahead. With all the changes the past year brought, and all the blessings God showered on our family, I anxiously await what is in store for us this year. I know there will be "bumps in the road," but I also know that He will continue to show Himself good and faithful.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

Today, Randy and I went to the party store to find stuff to make a piñata for the Children's Christmas party at church this weekend. While we were there, I was able to find Christmas plates and napkins! My favorite find of the day was snow fluff. I was so excited to get home with it and decorate the tree. I have been trying to think of something to add just the right finishing touch to the tree and that was it! While the children were in Thai class and the "babies" were playing in their room, I made it look like it had snowed on our Christmas tree. The children were absolutely thrilled and so was I to see the reaction on their faces. They have been "down-in-the-dumps" about not having snow for Christmas. This was what they needed to uplift their spirits. Needless to say, so was I! I also bought spray snow and sprayed the cabinet door windows. You can almost "feel" the cold when you walk into the room. NOW, I think our living room is ready for Christmas. Thank you, Lord, for the little blessings You send our way JUST when we need them!

Of course, there is no snow on the bottom of the tree as I was afraid William would try to eat it!

"All I Want For Christmas Is ..."

"... a Christmas tree with ornaments!" That is what I told Randy several weeks ago. And, I got it!!! Early, of course, and it obviously has made it "feel" more like Christmas really is this month. This year, I already have in mind what I would like to get the children for Christmas. Since the Christmas holiday is not officially celebrated in Thailand, the children don't see all kinds of advertisements on the television about "Christmas toy gift ideas." That's been kind of nice because they haven't been selfishly saying, "I want that" or "I HAVE to have one of those!". Although this Christmas will be very different for us, we rejoice in the fact that we have the CHRIST of Christmas living in our hearts. The sad truth this Christmas is all around us - people who don't have the joy of knowing Christ as their personal Saviour. So, the real question shouldn't be "What do I want for Christmas?". Rather, it should be, "What does HE want from me for Christmas?" The only person who can answer that question is you. Only you know what Christ wants from you. Maybe it is to change something in your life or some bad habit. Maybe it is greater service for Him. Maybe it is a greater love for the unsaved. Or for someone, maybe it is your heart. Whatever the case may be, He wants something from us. Not just because it is Christmas, but because He IS the King of Kings and we should celebrate His birth every day.