Growing Girls

After a loooong silence on the blog, here are a few photos of the girls!

First day of school!

Rebekah has really enjoyed learning to read.

Abby loves to read too! She had to try it upside down, like a character in one of her books.

First time to have her face painted.

Hanging out at the circus.

All ready for the show.

Hosanna loves the camera. Modeling her new outfit for Grandma.

Happy birthday, Abby!

8 years old!

All grown up while Mamma wasn't looking.

Josh and I on our 9th anniversary!

Books to Read: Preparing to Be His Helpmeet

I have known about Debi Pearl's Preparing to be his Helpmeet for some time, and I have even had it on my shelf for a couple of months now. But because I was operating under the impression that it was for single ladies, I had never picked it up. Several weeks ago I was looking for something new to read, and this book came to mind. I remember thinking to myself, "Debi always has so much wisdom, I'm sure there will be something there for me."

I was not disappointed. This book is full of practical wisdom about men, women, and life.

The very first chapter hooked me, fascinated me, instructed me, and left a mark on me. I came away both convicted and encouraged that I could make a difference where it really matters. I'll leave you to find out what that first chapter is about. ;)

Among other things is an overview of 3 types of men and how their wives can be ready to serve them effectively. And then comes the fun part: the 3 types of women! Find out how life jerks you around and what you should do about it. And how you can fill your home with many precious and pleasant riches. Interwoven throughout are many sweet stories of how godly people found their mates (and a few not-so-wise people too) and what they learned.

This book is not about how to find a mate worthy of pursuit; it is about becoming a mate worthy of pursuit. In the process of learning how to be the women we ought to be, (whether single or married) the quest is to know Jesus better and be well-equipped to serve Him. That is a message that applies whether you're 17, 70, or somewhere in between.

I encourage you to read it, but I'll warn you, if you do, you'll have a hard time putting it down. ;)

Before and After!

Before...

After...

One Simple Act that Pleases God

Photo credit

Life can dish out some lumps sometimes. To be honest, I have been fighting a whole list of grumble-worthy items threatening to overtake my thoughts and riddle me with self-pity. As silly as it may sound, at the top of my grumble list has been the weather. Winter in L'viv dishes out a long series of dreary with a lot of cold, wind, snow, slush, mud, and ice. The sky has been overcast now for about 3 months straight, plus a few weeks. After awhile I feel like the darkness outside my window overshadows my spirit and makes it sink lower and lower.

Over the last few days I've done some thinking and praying through a tangle of concerns. And I don't have all the answers. We often don't see the end from the beginning.

But I know the One who does. In the midst of my discouragement, I have known there was one thing to do, one step He wanted me to take. Regardless of whether a person is at the height of joy or the bottom of the barrel, God has made his will very, very clear. I can feel rotten or delightful and still do this simple act that pleases God so much.

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Every thing is every thing. (Even nasty weather and low spirits.) And the beauty of it is, in giving us this command, God has given us the very key to our own happiness.

In every thing give thanks. God's will for me and for you.

"Every day will I bless thee...." 

Psalm 145:2

Image courtesy of Photokanok / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Winter Days

Hosanna's 2nd Birthday. Where does the time go?

We enjoy having these swings right in our courtyard.

With our newest little friend, Lydia Day.

She is quite a hit!

We've made new Ukrainian friends too: Hosanna with Oleg and his daughter, Dasha.

On a winter walk: Abby, Rebekah, and Melissa Day. But what is the attraction?

This! Struedel-making is fascinating.

Hammin' it up.

Sunshine

An indoor play area is great for bad-weather days.

Abby is our budding artist, and spends many hours drawing and writing stories.

Snow! I don't think we're in Texas anymore. ;)

Silly girl

Happy 2013 to you!

Refuse to Stress

“Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3

Walking alone on a quiet downtown street, I had a conversation with God. I was facing a mountain of responsibility and work over the next week. “What was my request?”, I wondered almost to myself as I tried to form a prayer. I realized as I prepared to enter into the fray of the next 7-day stretch, what I wanted most was to enjoy the feeling of being at rest. In other words, I didn’t want to stress out. 

It hit me that if was my biggest concern was “freaking out”, I was already experiencing that feeling. I was already living my fear and it was time to get rid of it. I stopped right then and there and told the Lord that in His power, I was not going to run around frantically. I was not going to stress out about my upcoming responsibilities. With His help I would take my tasks one and a time and do my best. No more. 

Frankly, there is no more to do.

The truth is that we are all given a limited amount of time. We each have 24 hours in the day to divide and use at our discretion. I can plan. I can organize my thoughts. I can complete one task at a time. I can make the best choice about what to do in the moment I hold in my hand. 

But I refuse to stress.

In the verse above, God connected peace with the ability to stay the mind. Being able to control what goes in and out of our minds is essential to our quality of life. If we cannot control the channel of our thoughts, we cannot keep our minds stayed on Him, or much else for that matter. Nor can we know the peace talked about in this verse.

Ann Voskamp said, “Stress is not a situation; stress is a state of mind.”

I think it is no coincidence that we have the opportunity to focus our minds on thanksgiving this week. You see, thankful thoughts are great distractors from negativity. They are like antidotes to the toxins of complaint and worry. By vocalizing gratefulness, we are doing the will of God (1 Thes. 5:18) and turning our minds toward Him.

Yesterday, the girls had put on a video recording of the Proverbs, and one verse in particular drifted back to the bedroom where I was sorting the laundry. It immediately caught my attention:

“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices, with strife.” Proverbs 17:1

This week, we can have a house full of sacrifices (or roast turkeys, in this case), and strife, as it were, in our spirits. How much better it would be to have dry toast on Thanksgiving Day with spirits that are quiet and ready to enjoy the things most important in life? 

Let’s keep our minds focused and full of thankfulness, and I think we’ll find ourselves enjoying the moments that are given to us. Have a blessed Thanksgiving Week!

Homeward Bound

The packing has begun in earnest for our trip back to Ukraine. We are sad to be leaving our family, but happy to return to our home, our place of work, and our Ukrainian friends!

This Sunday, the 4th, is when we fly. We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for us and our children as we adapt again to the culture and language. I think my kids aren't really quite sure where our home is these days, and this will be yet another change for them.

Some of our stuff waiting to be packed or shipped.

We are going back to a land where a spirit of fear reigns. We meet people who are afraid of new things, afraid of innovation, afraid to think for themselves, afraid of each other, afraid of financial collapse, afraid of the government, afraid of cult groups, and so on. It is no coincidence that this spirit of fear can be felt. When I am in the States, I notice the absence of it. We need prayers and the grace of God to daily battle against this spiritual enemy. The people of Ukraine need to see saints unhindered by fear, free to exercise righteousness, peace and joy. We know we have a Spirit living in us who is Greater than that of the world, but we also need your prayers for strength, wisdom and courage.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 

2 Timothy 1:7