Don't Waste Your Life!

My Dear Husband and I visited in The Dalles for Thanksgiving.

That may seem like old news to some, but Jay had never done that, and I love him for stepping out of his comfort zone to travel. He is a 'stay-at-home' kind of guy.

We've since celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve, and I confess to y'all that I've been in a struggle all this time. Remember when Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32? Well I didn't want my hip to be injured like Jacob's, so today I relented. Every time I questioned God about this He deflected my reasoning. So...

I'm going to the Philippines on a mission trip to an orphanage called Nehemiah House.

I've wanted to make a difference, which I DO!...already, but the Lord has something more for me. I'm reading a book by John Piper called Don't Waste Your Life, and it backs up the call for me to go. I teach and present workshops on Living Like You Mean It, so why I've been so reluctant is curious.

My excuses this morning:

*this morning at the crack of dawn after my prayer time I felt compelled to give all my money away to someone in GREAT need

* there's a wedding in April that my grandson will expect me to attend

*When I asked about the team (hoping they were full), I was told 3 people had just dropped out

God's responses this morning and this afternoon:

**The sermon this morning was about 'embracing the call'!

**The team needs someone to present a Bible study to women, and the one Monique (the leader) has been praying about is one I've been leading for several months! She needs me to present this.

**The team needs someone to lead morning songs for the girls in the orphanage, and I sing!

**I'd been afraid to bring up 'the call' to my husband because he is not a 'go-er', and when I confessed my struggle and perceived 'call' he told me that if I'm called I'd better go AND he'd help with finances!

**Last year if felt a need to renew my passport!

My life is not a waste unless I don't answer the calls on it! I want to live big this year. One of the women I coach told me that in her prayer time she was given that God was going to do something big in the next three months. Since He will do for all what he does for one, I took that and ran with it. My Resolution Chart is made, but it is all about the physical (food, weight, exercise). Now I have even more reason to believe He is calling me for more, for something BIG.

Has He called you for more? Are you reluctant too? Get on the train!

Let's go somewhere BIG for God.

I'll be making aprons madly to raise money for the trip. Also I'll take four with me as gifts to the women who cook for us...lots of white rice, fruits, veggies.

I covet your prayers, your warriors out there.

Answer my call for prayers; answer God's call to live a bigger life for Him this year.

He may not be calling to an overseas mission, but He IS calling you to something!

Don't waste your life!

Filled Up

When my son and grandson visited just after school was out time stood still. They are a delight to me, and it was fulfilling to watch them interact with cousins/siblings. There was a marshmallow roasting contest, a four-wheeler race, eat fests, and time to look at and enjoy small children discovering caterpillars crawling on the forest floor. When they whisked themselves off for Kelly's new job at Coke I got 'down' with dear ones and a big painting project. The pictures below do not do justice to the green on the right or the Italian texture on the red wall. I love it!

As soon as the painting was finished I packed up for a trip west to see my son's family, my daughter's family (minus the hubby in Iraq), my sister, brother and mother. Whew! It was a whirlwind of travel in Oregon and Washington. Below is Isabella helping me pack the car when I left to return. Don't you love how little girls will dress themselves up. She wanted to wear her Barbie heels to shop with me, and she did; but I don't know how she remained upright.

This is the view from my son's home in The Dalles, Oregon where we watched a pirate ship (used in the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean) go through the locks at the dam. As it docked at the marina, we drove down to look closely, question the crew, and marvel at the smallness of the ship. It is a replica of one used for early exploration of the Pacific Northwest. When you click on the picture you can get a better view of the ship itself.

On returning home I brought along three of my grandchildren for a week's visit. Oh, my, what a passel of fun they were. Two girls and one boy livened up the house, meal-time, and daily activity level. When we returned them half-way, in Walla Walla, Jay's daughter Lovella and grandchildren accompanied us because the kids loved each other's company so much. Evan was devastated when we had to turn around to come home. He was tired of riding a long way, he was missing the kids, and told us sadly and sweetly he'd " being needing a puppy."

I had bought river shoes on sale for the grand kids because it is hard to explore rushing creeks in flip-flops. The shoe store in town had a sale, so I bought three pair. On our first outing to the Snake River, Brianna (above) lost one. I was so disappointed! So I prayed that when we returned the next day the Lord would reveal it to us. He did!! Orion was feeling on the bottom for rocks and came up with the shoe and a big smile. I gave him $5 for that treasure. He bought himself a meal at MacDonald's.

Which reminds me: While at Kelly's I was awarded the pleasure of taking Marcus on a trip by himself to visit some old school-teaching buddies in Wasco. On returning, and hungry he saw a MacDonald's out the car window. His response was to suck in a big breath and announce, "Look what I found, Grandma, a MacDonald's!" It was so cute that I stopped for an ice cream cone.

I'm not going anywhere in the very near future, but will get on with painting more of the house. My studio is the exception when it comes to vibrant colors. The upstairs will be serene shades of blue.