A City Life For Me

Something that we have been working toward for a while is Ben’s Ordination.  We knew that it would need to happen before we could start the church in the Bronx.  But how do you study for ordination while you’re traveling full time through 44 states over three years with five kids? Where do you find quiet when everyone is living in one hotel room space?  The Lord provided for that need when our family separated for the month of July this year.  The kids and I stayed with my parents in Colorado and Ben took some meetings in California on his own.  He spent a couple of weeks living in the library on university campuses.  I remember calling him one day during that time.  He said, “Except for the librarian, you’re the only person who has talked to me all day.  And the silence is  wonderful.”  {I was a little jealous!} Ben had to write a paper on the major doctrines of our faith, backing each statement up with Scripture.  He proofed th...

November 28th, 2016.  I don’t think I will ever forget that day.  Just two days shy of 35 months on the road, and we pulled into the driveway.  For the last time.  Deputation was done.  It was a long haul.  Not as long as many missionaries spend on deputation, but it taxed me to the limit. We started when the twins were but six months old, headed to Alabama to be appointed with Baptist World Mission.  Then I was pregnant with Henry while on the road, and we took only a six week break for his birth.  I have homeschool Elaine in Kindergarten, First Grade, and part of Second Grade.  I started Nolan in Kindergarten. Did not anticipate doing that. I potty trained Liberty at rest areas and in other people’s homes.  I tried to potty train Nehemiah, but we are still walking that road.  Most of deputation has had us with three in diapers, and me nursing at least one baby. We learned a lot of lessons.  We made cherished friendships....

I came across the “ Okay to Wake ” clocks through a review and Amazon.  I didn’t purchase at the time because we were on deputation.  We have been through the gamut with time zone changes and different sleeping arrangements, and I knew that I wanted to establish new routines once we got home.  The first thing was a regular wake up time. I was all set to purchase two of these clocks, one for each of the kids rooms.  But I read several negative reviews, including complaints that the clock glowed all night before it turned green in the morning.  I didn’t want a bright light in the room, so this didn’t sit well with me. There is another brand of wake up signal that seemed to be made very cheaply and lots of people said it broke easily.  As I continued to read the reviews on Amazon, I came across one with a brilliant idea.  And I copied it. The idea with this product is that you set the alarm, but instead of a noise to wake the kids up, the light glows g...

We’ve been home for about two weeks now.  KNowing that we don’t have to resume consistent road travel has allowed us to settle in a bit, even though we are in temporary housing.  And, some things that are not conducive to life on the road have been very nice to add back into daily life.  Here are a few of my favorites right now! The Majesty and Glory of Christmas My all time favorite Christmas CD!  I love the mesh of familiar and less-known carols all woven together to tell the Christ story! New Comforter – Hotel Style Thank you anniversary money!  This is one aspect of living in a hotel that I really enjoyed, so we were able to get a great sale on one of our own! The Okay To Wake Clock This little gadget glows green at a preset time to signal kids that it’s okay to get out of bed.  If they wake up before the green light, they know to stay quiet and in bed.  This has enabled me to shower and read my Bible before the kids all come tumbling out eac...

Almost two weeks ago, my Elaine girl turn seven.  S-E-V-E-N.  Wow.  That makes me feel old!  Assuming she lives with us through college, that means we are about 1/3 done with our time with Elaine!  That is scary… I feel like there is yet so much to teach! Elaine is really a great big sister.  She is a helper and a teacher and an example, to Mommy and her siblings.  She is nearly always happy.  If she isn’t busy and involved with her brothers and sister, she is probably curled up with a book somewhere.  I used to be like that.  My Grandma was always getting on me for bringing a book everywhere.  Elaine brings three or four! I snapped a few pictures on the morning of her birthday. This was one of the few moments during our three weeks in Vancouver, BC that it wasn’t raining! Finally got her to smile! Elaine picked out her outfit for her birthday.  She loves purple, so the dress choice was easy.  The shirt is one that...