A City Life For Me

I just wanted to take a brief look back at our 2015 and share our 2016 goals! Looking Back at 2015 2015 was filled up with two main events – full-time deputation, and the birth of Henry.  In many respects 2015 feels like a whirlwind, and at the same time I often felt like it was dragging by.  Some parts of life on the road are monotonous – it even feels strange when we don’t climb into the van for a long drive on some days.  Yet other parts of this journey are always an adventure.  We have seen so many parts of the country! Fun facts from 2015: We have driven 40,365 (+) miles We have traveled through 33 of the 50 United States! When Henry turned four months old on Dec. 27, he had been to 20 states We have been in 46 different first time meetings at churches this year The Lord has increased our support by 37% We put everything into storage and moved into temporary housing, in great anticipation of the day we get to move into the Bronx When Henry was ...

Today I want to share something that Lord has been doing in our hearts over the last couple of weeks.   During our short time in Brooklyn in April, I went to see the midwife for a baby check-up.   It was also my 20-week anatomy sonogram.   Baby boy was breech, so it was difficult for them to get all of the pictures they wanted, especially of his heart.   I returned ten days later for a follow-up sonogram.   At the second visit they discovered that baby’s kidneys are retaining fluid.   This is something that is more common in boys, but it can also be a marker for more serious health problems.   I was so thankful that the midwife I was seeing that day was Jeniffer – she delivered Nolan and the twins, and I have a really good relationship with her.   I felt comfortable asking my questions and talking with her about this difficult issue.   I decided to have a blood test done which is 99% accurate in pin-pointing the potential problem...

I took these pictures of the kids on a deputation stop in Maine a few weeks ago.  I just came across them today, but they seemed so appropriate, considering the 13th anniversary of 9/11. This was a war memorial and the sign says “The Price of Freedom Is Not Free”.  So true.  I am so thankful for the countless lives that have been given to allow me to grow up in a free country.  I am blessed by the freedom of America on a daily basis.  I am free to attend the church of my choice.  I am free to live where I believe the Lord has led me.  I am free to have as many children as I do.  I am free to homeschool my daughter. It just happened that Elaine was wearing red, white, and blue in this picture, but it fits so well! As part of our homeschool routine, we say the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and to the Bible before we pray for school each morning.  I know Elaine doesn’t understand all of the words, but it was a good exercise for m...

Here are a few of our specific prayers which God has answered… I needed some new sippy cups.  I wanted to buy some, but Ben reminded me we should pray about it.  I needed some with soft spouts for the twins.  I got a $5 coupon at the grocery store, and the sippy cups are $5.49.  We were also given a soft spout sippy in a gift basket from a church where we had a meeting.  “Ironically”, this basket had been packed with someone else in mind – we were filling in for friends who had a baby.  But God knew we would be the ones receiving it! Elaine has been praying for rain boots.  I tried to find some on sale.  I asked Grandma.  No boots.  Then my friend Maggy asked if Elaine needed any boots, because her daughter had three pairs.  Praise the Lord – and Havilah even gave Elaine the boots that matched her rain coat.  I have an excited little girl! Ben’s air compressor broke just before he finished a jo...

The Lord gave us a unique opportunity this week.  My dad secured a job for him and Ben to do a roof on a church in Eugene, Oregon.  Now, going from New York City to Oregon is a long way.  And this roof is the biggest that my dad has ever done (and he has done quite a few ).  And Ben hasn’t really ever roofed before.  And they were going to do it in just a week. That’s all great – but what was I going to do by myself, with four kids, for a week?!?  Have a nervous breakdown, probably!  But the roofing job was paying enough that we could afford to fly the whole family to Denver.  The kids and I would stay with my mom while Dad and Ben continued on to Oregon.  This is a double blessing – a good job, and a trip “back home.”  I have been wanting to see my grandparents again, and to introduce the twins to them, but I didn’t know when it would ever be possible.  How could we afford four plane tickets?  And two or three days in the ca...

There is a children’s song that has been stuck in my head recently.  Part of the chorus says, “Faithful in little things, ‘cause little things make big things…”  I think it is by Patch the Pirate.  I know the song is trying to teach our children to be faithful in the small things, but recently I have been noticing how my God is faithful – right down to the little things. Now that the twins have arrived and I look back to see how all of the details came into play, I am overwhelmed with the faithfulness of the Lord.  His faithfulness in the details is indeed a big thing! While I was starting to fret about having a van on time, God was busy giving us a van that was close and easy to pick up, low miles, and at a lower price that most of what we had shopped.  And then our church and Ben’s home church surprised us by taking up a special offering for our van.  This unexpected blessing, added to our savings for the van, meant that we didn’t have to finance any ...

In October when we found out that we were having twins, Ben told our Pastor that there were three things God was going to have to do to get us ready.  We needed a new house, a new job, and a new van.  Little by little, in just His timing and way, God has provided those things. We moved into our new apartment {on the 1st floor!} on December 15th.  In January, Ben launched out into Home Improvement Contracting business on his own.  It was nerve wracking to not have something steady & consistent, but as we trusted God, He provided job after job after job.  The only work Ben has missed since January are the days he has chosen to take off.  This arrangement has also been a blessing as I have had more doctor’s appointments that a normal pregnancy.  Ben’s flexible schedule allows him to watch the kids while I go to the doctor. When we announced my pregnancy to our family, we asked my dad to help us find a van.  He is the “car guy” and I don’t kno...

Today I am overwhelmed by God’s provision for us…yet again.  Things have been a smidge tights since Ben hasn’t worked full hours the last few weeks.  And he had to license himself as an independent contractor, which costs quite a pretty penny here in the City.  We didn’t tell anyone.  We weren’t starving.  But we were wondering how we would pay the rent and buy necessities too.  Until yesterday.  Pastor Bickel told us he had a few dry goods and a couple of grocery gift cards for us from the church.  I was excited at “few”.  I was overwhelmed at my trunk overflowing with bags of groceries.  And many of the items were exactly what we needed. This is what I posted on my Facebook page: To our dear friends at Bethel...you have once again blessed us beyond measure. Once again the Lord has used you to meet some of our physical needs. Your gifts of food staples came at just the right time. And how did you know exactly what we needed? Yo...

Linking up with the Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday today! Here are the guidelines…you can join in the fun too! 1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community. . The prompt is… PATH Go. I am so glad that God chooses the path of life for us.  I would never have imagined where His path has led me.  I didn’t think it would be possible to graduate from college debt free.  Or that my Prince Charming would be the boy on campus who couldn’t talk.  {Ask me about that later}.  I never would have dreamed that my mission field would be in the United States.  That I would get to complete my internship in Spain, or visit Israel with my in-laws...

We were just told this week that as of January 1st Ben will no longer have a job.  Things have been going downhill in his job for a while, and we have been scouring the internet and the want ads for a new job since Nolan was born.  The last few weeks have been very uncertain and sporadic.  Sometimes Ben gets a call at 8 p.m. and is told not to come in the next day.  There just isn’t enough work to keep everyone busy.  He has had anywhere from one day to three days off each week for a while. Even when he was fully employed, the income was never quite enough.  God has been faithfully providing our needs, and we know that He will continue to do so.  It’s really neat to see how He chooses to do it, and the timing that He determines is best, in every situation.  It has been good for us to be dependent on the Lord to provide our daily bread, though it is not always easy to trust when you cannot see! Ben does have an interview on Wednesday, but the p...

Being a new mommy to two kiddos means…I’m always tired, and I don’t always get to sleep at night!  I have been wanting to write this post for several days, but I’m just now getting around to it. On Saturday, July 23rd, I was the recipient of a “Shower of Blessings” in the form of a baby shower for Nolan.  The ladies at Bethel Baptist Fellowship surprised me (yes – I was really surprised) and hosted the shower while my mom was in town.  Ben’s mom and sister also came down for the shower.  Ben told me we were going to the Aquarium, but we had to stop at church first to finish a project.  (It was something that I had been asking nagging him to do for a few weeks).  He got me into the auditorium by saying he left his Bible there earlier that morning during the visitation outreach.  When I walked through the door I was greeted with “surprise” by all of the ladies and girls of the church. I never suspected a thing.  The ladies got together and bo...

My friend Leah has a blog called “Drops from My Cup.”   That phrase has been stuck in my head regarding God’s provision for our family.  God has done so much, and provided in so many different ways, that I often feel as if my “cup” is running over.  However, the things that I am able to share here with you are only drops from that cup.  There is no way to adequately describe everything that God is doing for us here in New York City. On Tuesday I shared a drop from my cup.  Can I share another one with you?  Elaine has been needing a few things for winter.  She has enough to get by, but I feel like I am washing her clothes more frequently.  I have looked at stuff in the store.  Tried to bargain hunt and thrift shop.  I have asked Ben if I could make a few purchases.  He always said, “God will provide.”  I thought it would be through Elaine’s birthday (coming up in two weeks!).  I forwarded a list to the grandparents. ...