A Rock Castle Thanksgiving

Walter's family has a really fun tradition of meeting at a cabin in Missouri for Thanksgiving. This is not just a rustic roughin' it cabin, but a true place to relax, as you can see. We've been doing this since my first Thanksgiving with Walter - before we were even engaged - and I really look forward to it every year. We don't get in our cars for 4 days (other than when Grams and Grandpa took Asher to see the horses at the front of the park ) and we just enjoy the beauty of our surroundings and each other's company while escaping the frenzy of Christmas sales and shopping.

This is our whole crew (minus Asher who slept through Thanksgiving dinner -oh! and Walter was there too). My sister joined us, along with Walter's parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle and 2 cousins, and another cousin with his new wife!

Here we are in the "backyard" of the cabin. The view is incredible and this is where we even had an afternoon bonfire one day and everyone took a turn reading a Junie Bee book - apparently a popular series among 2nd graders.

We got all bundled up to take a walk and this is how we started off. By the way, mittens with out thumbs are a really cool thing! Asher could not get them off and just kind of walked around not knowing what to do with his hands!

So...after about 1/8th of a mile, this is how our walk turned out.

There were several football games played. This was the beginning of the Ultimate Turkey Bowl and this is a picture of both teams!

Asher was helping his daddy's team win by strategically moving one of the endzones.

Walter loves crafts and he led this project of decorating gingerbread men.

One of the best parts was having time to relax and read books.
But now we're back to the real world and ready to enjoy the Christmas season.

I am Thankful for....

This year, I think I need two lists of things that I am thankful for. One list is of things that are easy to be thankful for. They are the automatic ones that I think of when I count my blessings. The other list is of things that I truly am thankful for, but they are bittersweet. This list comes out of the hard times and I can only be thankful for them after contemplating God's ultimate work in my life. So here they are:

These things are easy to be thankful for:

1. God's Grace and Amazing Love

2. My wonderful Husband who encourages me not to give in to the easy way.

3. My sweet little boy, Asher, who has a smile and laugh that reminds me I am blessed.

4. Our families and friends who love and support us.

5. The "coincidences" of life that have allowed me to work part-time and still experience the joys and camaraderie of being a mom.

These are those hard things that I am still thankful for:

1. Heaven has become a sweeter place to me this year and I look more forward to being there.

2. We have good friends who personally understand the same hard times.

3. My parents are missionaries and live in Ethiopia (and don't come home during the Holidays.)

4. My husband has a lot of perseverance to study long days and nights.

5. God makes something beautiful out of pain. ("Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1: 2-4)

Perspectives

I've added a link on the sidebar to check out. This link is to the Bloomington Perspectives class. For those of you who live in Bloomington (or nearby) this link is for you! I have been involved with this incredible, life-changing class for almost ten years and I will never forget the truths I learned and continue to be reminded of every year.

The class is an eye-opening journey through the Bible to see what God's heart is for the world. Beginning in the Old Testament and continuing through the rest of the Bible and early history to what is going on around the world today, I guarantee your life will be forever changed if you journey through the 15 week course.

Literally, it will change your perspective on life to understand that God's plan for the world from the very beginning was to bring people into relationship with Himself and to bring glorify to His name. Throughout the 15 weeks, you will hear seminary professors, pastors, missionaries, and ordinary people share on different topics and you'll also get to be accountable to read deep articles related to the topics.

The link gives more details, but let me know if you want more info!!!

Top 10 More Fun Sins

"I am not tempted to worry. If I'm going to sin, I will pick a more fun sin than worry."

Inspired by this thought, this is my list of:

Top 10 Sins that are More Fun than Worrying

1. Eating a gallon of Oreo ice-cream in one evening.
2. Criticizing my boss to my coworkers.
3. Lounging in bed all day long for a few days.
4. Passing on the latest piece of "news" I heard about a friend.
5. Watching enticing tv shows that may leave destructive images in my mind.
6. Telling my friends my husbands faults (that is if he had any!!! :)).
7. Assuming verses in the Bible about giving and serving don't apply to me.
8. Taking a 2 hour lunch because my boss isn't around anyway.
9. Neglecting to pray for needs I've committed to praying for so I that I can watch Oprah.
10. Taking credit for any praise I receive rather than giving the glory to God.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34)

Halloween Fun

Asher was a giraffe for Halloween this year. We took him to visit daddy at work during the day and did reverse trick-or-treating where Asher had the fun of passing out chocolate covered eyeballs to our coworkers!

After daddy got home, we went to the mall and got some yummy candy, rode on the carousel, and met up with our friends the bee and a flamenco dancer. Asher enjoyed Halloween and probably ate more candy in one night than he has in his entire life.

He was bouncing around in his crib that night on a little sugar high!

A Happy Fall Day

We had some much needed family time yesterday afternoon at the park and did a fun photo shoot. The trees were beautiful and the sun was warm.

Perseverance

After completing a marathon in 1999, I thought I knew everything about perseverance. I was inspired by a newspaper article after the prior year's race and committed with a friend to train and run the race the following year. Serious training began at the beginning of the summer and continued until mid-October. Throughout those five months of being consumed with running, I learned what it meant to persevere. Along with running in those five months, I quit a job, moved back to Bloomington, lived with my parents for a couple of months, and finally found a new apartment and new job.

I ran in the scorching heat, on cool mornings, under draining sunshine, through the unknowns of lakeside darkness, extreme humidity, and soaking rain. Along the way I lost everything in my stomach several times, experienced dehydration chills, and slept my way through many Saturday afternoons after running long distances in the morning. My life was focused on training for the race and I camped on the verses in Hebrews that talk about the race of life we are all running and how we are challenged to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith.

When the morning of October 24, 1999 came, I was prepared and full of nervous anticipation. My long runs were over, I had tapered, eaten a carb filled dinner the night before, and had my pockets full of energy gels. It was time for the "victory lap." The race was amazing. Although my second marathon was full of friends and companions to encourage me, the 1999 run was a solitary experience that proved I could do it! After 5 hours, 4 minutes, and 26 seconds (I still easily remember that number 5:04:26!), I crossed the finish line and received the medal around my neck. I had done it - fixing my eyes on the prize.

I reflect on that time as an extreme physical experience of learning perseverance. I have run until I seriously did not think my legs could move anymore so I know what it means to persevere physically and now I am learning what it means to persevere spiritually and emotionally. It means holding fast to what I know to be true and refusing to give in to doubt and bitterness.

This summer, I began to memorize the first chapter of James. I picked the book of James because it is practical and God's Word is so important to know in full and in context. In the first chapter, James writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." These verses sound uplifting, easy, and inspiring when life is smooth. Just like my images of training for and running a marathon were full of weight loss, admiration, perfect weather, and no comprehension of real pain when I first read that newspaper article. It is a different story though when I was in the middle of the race and every ounce of me wanted to just stop.

James continues to say that perseverance must complete its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything! Do I feel more complete since running a marathon? In a way I do. I know I can endure physical difficulties and still go to work the next day. Will I feel more complete after enduring emotional and spiritual trials?

I think I will find out. In the meantime I will persevere.