We will cling to His every word

Luke 19:47b-48

The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

This summer has been full of wonderful things...and as life goes, with hard things as well. We just said good bye to 4 families that we have spent life with and some for over the last 2 years here in the St.John Neighborhood of Austin.

One couple, were believers whom we did life with and considered family...they left for sudan, africa. Another family we have known since we moved in here...they have had many stuggles, but we would pray and watch God provide for them even when they did not believe. Another family consisted of a single mom and 2 girls who became one of our life joys as we watched God provide for them after their apartment burned down. God brought salvation to them and a joy to our home that we feel we will never experience with any others. They were our blessed interruption and changed our lives forever. And then another family we have known for a little over a year. Their children were a part of our home as well. Over the last few months, we have had to work with police, Narcotics, Housing authorities and CPS as we watch their family be split a part and broken even more over the selling of drugs.

We are learning to say good bye...and that what we think God is doing is usually only 10% of what He is truly doing. Our lives are not the same since we first arrived here in St. John. A few months ago...even 2 days ago, we imagined doing life with these families forever...BUT GOD, is what we are learning to look to. Our children are not the same as when we first moved in. WesleyGrant has learned things about life as he cries and says good bye to his friends....or as he prays to God and describes the "bad guys" that he needs God to get....or as he waves to those he knows as the kind neighbors....Sally and Karis are learning to be princesses in the midst of a broken castle...and that only Jesus loves them the most.

Stew and I are learning everything. But most of all, we are learning to cling to God's every word...even when man, circumstances and evil seek to destroy us. We cling...we do life here...and we find great joy, all of us...in our King Jesus. To Him are all things given and we trust that He is still making all things new ahead.

Hilary's Wedding

We have had the privilege of Hilary Pepper living with us this summer. It has been such a joy. She got married on labor day and me and sally had so much fun with all the festivities. She had the coolest bachlorette party. Rented out a dance studio and we all dressed in 80's (even sally) and learned dances we could do at the wedding! It was a beautiful wedding! We already miss her so much!

Life has just not been the same since we got back from sabbatical. And my camera broke...so the blog entries have been very few. But as things settle out and new things settle in...i hope to start writing again. So stay tuned, if you are still there. =)

The Ramirez's and their call to the Didinga People

Join us for a night to raise awareness for the country of Sudan and to support God's call to mission in the lives of Jonathan and Lauren Ramirez

Friday, September 11, 2009

7pm - 11pm

DOMINICAN JOE COFFEE SHOP

Music performed by Aaron Ivey and Aaron Peace

Music will start at 8:30pm. Photography, T-shirts and hand-made goods will be avialable to purchase using check or cash. All proceeds will go directly to the Ramirez's and Africa Inland Mission.

Getting back to life...

I feel like we have still been on "vacation" even though stew is back to work. We have had a real chill summer...but we are slowly getting back to life here in Austin. This video just shows you a typical scene in our home with the kiddos. Alessia's girls and my kiddos have been reunited and they love each other so much...this is so usual, wesleygrant leads the girls to do something...he made them line all the chairs up and became their bus driver...it went on all day...but i caught a glimpse of what i hear from the kitchen...minus the "don't take my picture!".. =)

But isn't it true, when you get a real dose of rest after so much running, you almost don't want to get back up again...this is kind of how i have been feeling...but yet, i hear the chant of all the saints of Jesus over all this life...and so we are coming to a place of jogging again. Rest has been good to look more clearer ahead...so, ahead...we go...

We are learning :
1. that believing God loves us truly changes our lives, even to the smallest detail
2. that God is in control amidst the evil that continues...that it does have an end
3. that it is good to ask for help
4. that God is provider always
5. that seeing God so bright can often come in the harder times

will write more as we head into fall.....

The last 4 weeks for us

Pa and Gammy visit us to give all us girls gifts!! Thank you! We love you!

Theresa and Ryan King's Wedding!! It was both a celebration and a reunion of old friends!

We got lots of cuddle times with kids while away...stew also set up his own office in the closet!

We got back early and got to have a small bday party for Sally! She is 3!

Our traditional birthday morning fun! Special place, gifts and poster! and of course, happy face pancakes!

We got to visit our dear friends, the Crawfords in Kansas City...they are amazing and it was an amazing time! They are a part of redeemer fellowship church....we love you crawfords!!

Resting in Idaho!

The girls got twin babydolls for their birthdays!

Old Faithful in Yellowstone national park!

Kids got to ride horses for the first time in Yellowstone! It was so fun!!

Karis's first birthday! We introduced her to our family tradition of "happy face pancakes"! She actually didn't like the whipped cream! crazy! and we painted karis' toes for the first time...she loved it...such a girl! that was sally's idea of course! =)

We have had an amazing time the last 4 weeks as we have travelled over 11 states. There are many stories and many lessons...but all in all in hind-sight, we have found places in our hearts that believe more that "Jesus Loves us, always, no matter what" And b/c He loves us, we can be who he has made us to be! We are so greatful to our friends and their family that let us use their cabin and all along the way across america who opened their home! We are refreshed and ready to keep going ahead as we continue here in Austin.

The WORST GOSSIP from a friend

"It makes the hairs on the back of my neck bristle when I remember the worst rumor that anyone ever spread about me. It was so bad that I used to get sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I wanted to hide from it.

But there is another piece of gossip about me that frees me from shame. Nothing was more character-defaming than the news that was announced about me at the cross. That I am so full of sin and worse… that sin is my nature. That my self-righteousness is a theatre mask to cover my evil heart, that my good deeds are soiled rags that I use to wipe the guilt off of my conscience. That my murderous thoughts are just as bad as murder. That I am so far beyond rehabilitation that no behavior modification program could curb my appetite for vileness. That I need to be born again into a new creation. That to rescue me from the damnation I deserve it required the death of the perfect Son of God.

Truly this is the worst gossip– but gossip that turns shame on its head. Milton Vincent says about the cross, “With the worst facts about me thus exposed to the view of others, I find myself feeling that I truly have nothing left to hide (A Gospel Primer for Christians).” The cross of Jesus Christ liberates us from the heavy facade of self-righteousness."

Our friends Dave and Gloria posted this and it described what i have been discovering these last weeks away...we are home...will begin writing again soon...

Today with the kiddos

Today we said goodbye to Alessia and the girls for a while...we will miss them so much! The kiddos took a photo shoot together at the park...hilarious! We are off and will be back in a few weeks...cold weather here we come! especially since i just cleaned out our trash can outside full of maggots!! oh my goodness! I am out of here with this Texas heat! See you in July folks!