Amelia Bedelia

I like Amelia Bedelia.

Two nights ago I came home from a long day.  People's opinions stuck in my head.

I put Evee to bed.  She slept on the floor of our room because we didn't know how bad the storm would be and she didn't want to be alone (and clearly Iris didn't count for keeping comfort).

We read Amelia Bedelia...the original one where she starts working for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers.  In all actuality I'm sure that Amelia Bedelia would be quite frustrating to be around in real life.  I'm sure I'd go crazy.

But, sitting on that mat with Evee as she pointed out all the things that Amelia Bedelia was supposed to do and then laughing, I found Amelia Bedelia to be quite freeing.

I think I like her because she has a good heart.  Sure, she does a lot of things wrong, but she is trying so hard.  I like that she gives others the benefit of the doubt.  Sure, it doesn't make sense to "dust the furniture" or  "draw the drapes" literally, but she does it anyway.  She doesn't sit there and complain that the instructions don't make sense to her...she strives to trust and keeps moving forward.  Grace comes from both sides.  In the end it was simply that, a reminder of grace.

I like that in the end she is understood, even in all her quirks...(though this isn't always the case in real life).  Of course, it helps that she makes good pies.

I make a fairly good chocolate cake, does that count? 

...in (no more than) 48 words.  A rhythm for the weekend.  Taking time to look back on the week past.  A simple way to remember the weeks, the moments and to stay present.

I would so love to read your words!  If you take time to ponder the week and write, please share them.
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A conference for our ministry areas (children's & celebration arts)...got to share about two things I'm passionate about - children's ministries and community.  It was fun.


Hurricane/tropical storm - lots of flooding and damage in the area, but we are fine.  Hoping good for everyone else in the affected.  

tidbits on last week

I looked at pictures of last week and remembered more of the beauty of it.  I should take pictures more often.

I think I said at least once a day to Clint, "I love four."  Evee is four and I love it.  Generally speaking, what a great age!

Our friends we live with have a farm share.  I confess, I've only gone 3 times to pick up our share, but I do love it and hope to contribute more to the simple pick up.

We made lots with tomatoes (the sign at the farm said to take as many as you want).  We made marinara 2 times last week and a wonderful tomato soup (even in the summer). 

We fixed an exterior handle on the car which saved hundreds of dollars (literally) and even though Clint did all the work and my contribution was to hold the computer so we could watch the YouTube video and repeat back what it said, I am very proud.

We regularly played music in the kitchen as we made dinner and did a lot (a lot!) of dancing.  I think Evee could dance for hours on end and I'm debating putting her in ballet again this fall before we move...

It was a good week and these are good days.  I am determined to not let them slip by me unnoticed, which can happen to easily.

this week

...in (no more than) 48 words.  A rhythm for the weekend.  Taking time to look back on the week past.  A simple way to remember the weeks, the moments and to stay present.

I would so love to read your words!  If you take time to ponder the week and write, please share them.
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Saying goodbye to old friends.  
Dinner with new friends.
Planning ahead while striving to stay present.

we are working

 Pictures for their Australian citizen applications.  

And this was after bribing Evee.  Oh my :).

Life has been family, work, planning for New Zealand/church planting, people and all of that again and again. 

It has felt a bit overwhelming at times - work and preparing for NZ.  And frustrating at times to not have ease and regularity of schedule or big chunks of time together as a family.  We are taking it whenever we can and thankfully we are around and about each other within the flow of our days...and for that I am thankful. 

I have missed blogging, simply because it is an outlet to process, forcing thoughtful reflections of our days and bringing clarity to life.  

I guess I have been processing, a lot in fact, but not putting those reflections into words.  I'm realizing that in the randomness that is life right now there is actually congruency and sense of family collaboration.  And I love this.  I've wanted family and work and life to all flow in and out of each other and suddenly I realize that we have this and the moments are here right in front of me...I simply need to take hold of it.  It looks a bit different than expected, but it is a journey we are on.  And I'm glad we are on it...whatever it holds. 

children

10 or more years ago, when Clint and I were engaged, we were trying to sift through the various ways for him to immigrate to the States.  At one point we thought a student visa was the best route (not realizing that there was a fiance visa, a much better route for us).

To obtain a student visa you had to be enrolled into a university and have all the money upfront (to our knowledge anyway).  We went to a private college that wasn't cheap...there was no way that the money was going to show itself on the front end.  We prayed and cried and sought wisdom.  During that time we felt quite hopeless.

In the midst of it all there was a young girl, maybe 4 or 5 years old at the time, who collected money, saved coins and gathered anything she had saved.  With a smile on her face, she gave it to me.  It was specifically for Clint to come, she said.

In the end we found out about the fiance visa, but we still have that bag of coins to this day.  In the midst of frustration, lack of answers and feelings of despair those coins were faith for us.  A testament.

The kids at summer camp raised money for us the other week, I know I already mentioned that.  I was truly thankful for whatever came in and knew that it would be a huge blessing no matter the number.

The woman who oversaw the "Missions" aspect of camp later wrote and told us this,

"God is SO amazing! All week long we've been praying and hoping that we reach the $6,000 goal. Kids at mission we're starting to get discouraged around Wed when they saw our graph on the board. But it was a good opportunity to talk to them about perseverance, keep praying and trusting that God will provide. We kept praying and indeed God answered. Praise God!!!"

Children always amaze me, but at moments like these above I am truly challenged to the core of who I am.  Their faith is strong, pure, trusting.  To think that those kids cared about how much came in and desired for the mark to be met is humbling.  To think about those, in the stories above, who truly sacrificed all...its a picture that is beautiful and convicting all at once.

I'm reminded of these words

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.

...You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

 And I find it true.

this week

...in (no more than) 48 words.  A rhythm for the weekend.  Taking time to look back on the week past.  A simple way to remember the weeks, the moments and to stay present.

I would so love to read your words!  If you take time to ponder the week and write, please share them.
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Early nights to bed and loved it.  Started reading before bed again and hope to continue this tradition, although it is easier to keep when Clint is away.  Happy to have my partner in life back.  Sweet times with friends.  Enjoying Evee and Iris...very thankful for them.

Awhile back I was refilling my coffee at a friends house.  As I went to fill my cup I noticed notes on the side of the fridge.  There was a "to do" list with everything crossed off.  At the bottom of the list there was a new "to do" added. 

It read, "Love each other really well".

I have not forgotten the words.  And even though I know the words aren't on their list anymore and even though my friend and I have joked about it a few times since, I have not forgotten them.  I love it.  And it wasn't simply to love each other, although that would be a great start for most of us as couples, but to love really well.  There was something about the wording and placement (on a list).  So simple, but not.

I have found over the last couple of weeks that some of my best moments with Clint are as we fall asleep at night holding hands.  Sometimes there is much on the mind and more words than could be expressed...sometimes the knowledge of how to form all that is on our minds into words is too high a task.  So a simple holding of the hands while falling asleep brings more comfort and understanding that words could possibly bring.  I am thankful for this. 

He comes home after a week away and this, too, I am thankful for.

and camp

Last week was the annual summer camp at church.  Last year I had little Iris on this exact week (the Monday of camp, to be exact).  It was interesting thinking about all that was happening at church and with coworkers and friends while I was adjusting to a new baby. 

There's much I could say about camp...  That I don't know if I was a true believer in "vbs" before now or that our volunteers are absolutely unbelievable (who takes off work to work?!) or that children are generally amazing.  All of this is true.

 

The best picture of it all for me, though, is through my own kids.  Evee loves to dance, I know this, but to see her pick up motions within a day or two and sing her guts out to songs written especially for this week was so fun.  Iris was swinging her legs to songs while hanging out in the moby wrap and struggling to get her hands free so that she could clap and dance to the music...

They also raised money for our future children's ministry in New Zealand throughout the week...money that we will use to do stuff for kids in the community and buy necessary things like crayons and tables.  One week and passionate kids/families equaled $6000...I am in awe and blessed. 

One song that runs through my head again and again from the week...

"We are nothing more than ordinary kids / and we choose to follow Jesus...  / His love is wider / His love is stronger / His love is deeper / it never runs out / there's enough for all of us."

 I love this simple beautiful truth.