We have lived in Iowa for 12 years.
And we have learned this:
People from Iowa love to visit Colorado.
And so for that reason (and a couple other really good ones)–
We are moving to Colorado!
It’s a move we are super excited about.
Andy is following some really amazing opportunities there.
You never could get the Colorado out of me.
The kids do love it there.
And we feel it’s a move that is good and right.
—–
At the same time, it’s like the “transition” part of labor.
It really stinks for a couple hours. Lots of pain. I remember.
Until that baby is born….
And then all you have is gratitude for the new life that is now yours.
—–
So JUNE is about to get crazy. It’s going to be “transition.”
We have a bunch of stuff going on. Final move will be July.
And making a move means leaving whole lot of people that we really, really love.
And that stinks.
—-
So Iowa people, we want to see you.
We want to hug you.
We want to talk to you.
There will be a couple opportunities to do that.
We’ll keep you posted on that.
And while you are there, we’ll get you directions to our place in Colorado for your visits.
——
Colorado people….
I’ll be taking “friend” applications starting immediately.
You might, however, want to check my Iowa references first…it might not be a position you want.
—–
So there you have it.
We’re moving!
And goodness, I have no idea really how to go about that….
Should I buy some boxes?
Call the utility company?
Pick up records?
—–
Seatbelts please.
This is about to get crazy….
May 31, 2010
Hugs from my boys…Ok, it’s possible that it was more a “forced hug” from Gabe…
From Ayla…my favorite 2 year old ever.
She loves me. Which is so funny…because I am the worst toddler person ever.
Yet she laughs and laughs at me…much like her Mom does.
Even though I’m not really funny.
Which is why I love them both.
From my husband.
I do not know what’s going on here mid-haircut.
But apparently the little boy with the camera found it amusing….
May 31, 2010
Been thinking about these two thoughts all week-end.
Praying through them with Andy.
I believe there’s a song that needs to be sung here.
There’s a prayer for the prosperity of the glory of the Lord that needs to be said.
Will we be able to find the courage?
I hope so.
I think so.
Saint John says that even in the heaven there will be a song that can only be sung by those “who had been redeemed from the earth.” Doubtless it is a song of triumph, a hymn of victory to the Christ who made us free. But the sense of triumph must come from the memory of the chain.
No angel, no archangel can sing it so sweetly as I can. To sing it as I sing it, they must pass through my exile, and this they cannot do. None can learn it but the children of the cross.
The Father is training thee for the part the angels cannot sing; and the school is sorrow.
—
In the darkest night He is composing your song. In the valley He is tuning your voice. In the storm clouds He is deepening your range. In the rain showers He is sweetening your melody. In the cold He is giving your notes expression. And as you pass at times from hope to fear, He is perfecting the message of your lyrics.
(George Matheson)
Paul Tripp touches on Ps. 51:18-19 where at the end of David’s prayer of confession, he ends with a prayer for prosperity.
“David is so bold as to not only ask God for mercy, but also to ask God that he would bless him, and not only him but all of Israel! —–
What David is requesting is completely different from the modern “health and wealth gospel” prayers for prosperity…those prayers are for the purpose of the delight of the person praying the prayer. Not so with David….He has now been caught up in the call to live large, that is, for the kingdom greater than his own. —- This prayer for prosperity is the result of a radically changed heart.
He asks it for the glory and delight of the Lord.”
May 31, 2010
Haircut. Landers style.
Pretty good if you ask the very qualified stylist….
Lots of hugs.
Smiles.
Good day.
May 30, 2010
So what you do is this:
You find friends who have taken the money, time, effort, and work to go real camping.
And then crash their site for the evening.
You can eat their chicken and potatoes that they cooked over the open fire.
Roast marshmallows as they keep it burning with the logs they cut down.
Let the kids run around on their bikes that they packed up and brought.
It’s so fun.
And look how happy they were to see us?!!
The kids can play….
And dance…
And then payment can be some really good campfire singing. It’s only fair.
May 30, 2010
We are tired.
After Day one.
We did a little boating. A little beach swimming. Iowa style.
And then some “pretend camping.”
We’ll explain just how to do that tomorrow.
For now…bed.
May 29, 2010
Day 1.
This could be interesting….
May 29, 2010
One Daddy and a car full of little boys…
Rescued a turtle from “certain death” on Hwy 22 on the way to school.
.
Little boys took turtle to school, making them very popular for one full day.
Brought turtle home.
Begged to keep him.
Mommy is very stubborn.
So finally all agreed to taking a walk and releasing turtle into neighbor’s pond.
(hope that’s OK, neighbor? )
The end.
May 28, 2010
“Our relationship with the Lord is never anything other than a relationship of grace. It is grace that brought us into his family. It is grace that keeps us in it, and it is grace that will continue us in it forever. But the grace thatt we have been given is not always comfortable grace…
—–
So God’s grace isn’t always comfortable because he isn’t primarily working on our comfort; he’s working on our character. With violent grace, he will crush us because he loves us and is committed to our restoration, deliverance, and refinement. And that is something worth celebrating.” (Paul Tripp)
I pretty much want to copy and paste this whole book.
I’ll be processing more of it as we go.
When I make note of the battle that raged in our hearts and minds, I want to buy 300 copies of this book to just have ready to give away as we walk with others.
It is on the top of my recommended reading list when people ask about what has kept us afloat.
It’s Paul Tripps Whiter Than Snow…an in depth look at David and Psalm 51.
And it is so very humbling.
I was talking via email with a friend who has been through a similar situation and she said,
“ Actually, I realized for the first time in my life what a wretch I had always been and it was purely God’s grace that saved me. After a bazillion years of being a Christian, I finally realized that I was THAT sinner…that sinner that needed a Savior. It wasn’t just my “sinful” husband that needed a Savior…it was me.”
I’ll go ahead and echo that. Shamefully. And honestly.
Someone else encouraged us as well by saying, “You move forward now as two sinners pursuing His Kingdom together. Not one sinner and one great sinner.”
Isn’t that the truth?
So I will go ahead and thank God for this refining of my own life as well as the refining of Andy.
For the violent grace that is at work.
It’s really pretty amazing.
May 28, 2010
OK, so I didn’t want to admit it.
But judging from the difference in form seen here between me and Gabe…I guess it is possible that I was just thinking, “get me off of this thing!”
I stink at swinging over the Mississippi.
May 28, 2010
