Be Happy

I have to admit I am feeling the blues . . . The flu hit me again this weekend. (I had it last weekend) It brings to mind a very discouraging time two years ago when for six weekends (almost in a row) I'd get sick. I HATE having the flu when I am so far along in my pregnancy!

Last evening Loraine came up to where Iwas sitting, some tears had escaped down my cheeks. She said, "Mama, happy." Often I tell her that she needs to "be happy". I guess she thought I needed the same words

"Be Thou my strong habitation,
whereunto I may continually resort :
Thou hast given commandment to save me;

for Thou art my Rock and my Fortress. Psalm 71:3

Sweethearts Forever!

This was a big bright spot in the weekend!

The youth went to a lot of work for us. One of the best things was babysitting being provided. I've never seen the church so romantic! We had fun choosing a table.

I shared a rhama with Japheth that evening about our upcoming birth.

Daddy and Mother were the first to walk into the banquet hall.





Enjoying being with my hubby again after two and a half long weeks!









"Let thy fountain be blessed:
and rejoice with the (husband) of thy youth.
. . . and be thou always ravished with (his) love. Proverbs 5:18,19

This Weekend

II Corinthians 12:15a “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;”

Thursday evening I couldn’t sleep, of course ,with Japheth and Wayne and the Hesses arriving sometime during the night.  They pulled in at 1:30 AM.  We then all stayed up and talked till about 3:00.  It being the “middle of the day” for them.  Finally we retired . . . then Wayne decided that that was all the “nap” he wanted and so I was up with him again at 4:30 for over an hour.  Somehow when your pregnant you need more sleep than ever.  The next day was a drag on my body, but I was so FULL OF JOY to have my loved ones back that I didn’t care!

Friday night again I got to have “second hand jet lag” with Wayne.  He came back a changed boy . . . Loves to cuddle so much more than before and will fall asleep in your arms so easy.  I had trained all our children to go to sleep in their crib, but at times wished it wasn’t so.  It is truly a joy to rock your child to sleep, but with my energy level I felt I had to rest when they did otherwise I didn’t get enough rest.  I didn’t want to have a child that HAD to be rocked every single time they needed sleep . . .  I didn’t think I could handle that, thus they ended up thinking that they HAD to be lying down in their bed to go to sleep.  So I am actually relishing this special time with Wayne especially since he’s been gone for so long . . . but he’s definitely become a Papa’s boy now, having spent so much time with him while surrounded with the unfamiliar.

Saturday evening I got out the calendar and figured out exactly how many weeks to go I had yet.  Is five weeks too early to have a baby at home? . . .  I was having contractions pretty consistently although not hard ones.  I did not feel prepared at all . . .   we had a house full of overnight company just getting to sleep for the night, a messy house, no newborn pampers on hand yet, ect.  Wednesday evening at prayer meeting I’d asked prayer that I would be ready for this birth . . . I didn’t feel ready at all . . . but if God thought I was then I that was ok.  Finally at 1:00 we decided that this was not the night and went to bed.  And once again Wayne and I had “special” time then later on.  Somehow I managed to have the strength to go to church . .  then we had company for lunch and I missed my much needed nap, but it was worth it.  God grace was there for me!!!

Ok, so Sunday evening rolls around and out come the buckets . . . bedding is being washed and buckets are still in use.  It is 2:30 and I give up of getting any sleep . . .  up and down and up and down so let’s just make the best of it and stay up!  I am very grateful that we have hardly had the flu at all this winter . . . in fact is this the first?  God has blessed us abundantly in this way this year.

Being a Mom you get many opportunities to serve your family . . .

At times like these I look back and praise the Lord for the loving, caring Mom that I had.  Then I took it for granted, Mom was just always there, she cleaned up the messes we made . . .  Now I realize how much she did for us all!!! She gladly was spent for us because she loved us . . .  Love makes all the difference in the world!!!

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.”  Psalm 89:1

Celebrating!!

It is almost 11:00 and Laura and I are partying with cappuccino and chips. We are celebrating the return of our families! Everyone else is fast asleep.

Japheth called twice and they are on the road now. SOOOO glad to have them safe in the US at last.

We also had a party at supper with party hats and little pizza's . . . . for the one's who would be asleep whent the real fun begins!

Praise God, Hallelujah!! We will see them soon! Thank-YOU, Lord!!!

"He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet,
so He bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness
and for His wonderful works to the children of men. Psalm 107:29-31

Deep Longing Love

Valentines Day -  a special day to revel in God’s love for me

“And thou shalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the Lord shall name” Isaiah 62:2b

Thou shalt no more be termed, Forsaken;
neither shall thy land an more be termed, Desolate:
but thou shalt be called, Hephzibah and thy land Beulah:
For the Lord thy God delighteth in thee.”  Isaiah 62:4a

Reading these verses brought back to mind the words of a song I learned at the Ladies Retreat one year. It says it this way:

I will change your name!
You shall no longer be called,
Wounded, Outcast, Lonely or Afraid

I will change your name!
Your new name shall be,
Confidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming One
Faithfulness, Friend of God, One Who Seeks Your Face!

Oh the vastness of what God can do for me . . . Will I let Him? . .  . Will I respond to His deep, deep longing love for me?!!!

Update on my loved ones far away . . .  Last night they flew back to Bankock.  Tonight they will see the doctor one last time (hopefully . . . unless they need to readjust something) and the next day they come flying home!! Praise God!!! . . . Thursday night or rather early Friday morning if they are awake enough to drive they are to arrive.   God has been with us each step of the way!

“Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet life’s trials here, trusting . . .”    His grace has been sufficient!!!!  

Climbing

I’m in the middle of reading the book, “Climbing” by Rosilind Goforth. I recommend it to any Mom. It has been such an encouragement for me!!! Today once again I was impressed by the poem at the beginning of the book even more so than when I read it at first.

CALL BACK!

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back –
“Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if perchance, Faith’s light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back and say He kept you when the forest’s roots were torn;
That when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the air was still.

O friend, call back and tell me, for I cannot see your face;
They say in it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you’ll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you’ll say He saw you through the night’s sin-darkened sky –
If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back –
“Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track. – Selected

This goes along with the Scripture that so boldly stood out to me yesterday that I even made it into a little song that’s just between me and the Lord right now. (Most of my singing is that way, I play guitar only good enough for the children to hear and also for the Lord and I. I’m not sure I’ll ever get beyond that . . . But when I started learning (and I feel I’m still in kindergarden) I desired to at least play songs for my children and myself. I have sung at the nursing home . . . I figure the old folks won’t mind if it’s not perfect, but I do feel embarrassed to have the nurses listen too long. And someday my children will probably be embarrassed of me . . . but until then I will sing to them. ;)
Isaiah 50:4 goes like this:

“The Lord God has given me
the tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary
He awakens me morning by morning,
He awakens my ear.”

I just know what a few words, from an older more experienced Mom that I look up to, did to this heart of mine! It happened last week and oh, the encouragement and boost that it gave my soul!!!

Probably what thrills my soul more than anything about Rosalind’s story is that her life has difficulties, her life is not picture perfect, she has to rely on God, she has several small children, and she is a real person who tells her story of how God was there for her! I think in heaven that will be a big part . . . each of us proclaiming aloud of how God was with us, there for us and what He did and has done for us.

That is why communions is one of my favorite services here at Kitchi, we all are given time to share what God is doing in our lives. Some are in triumphant victory, others are struggling, others have failed . . . but we get to hear and share with one another on a deep level that we don’t always take the time to or open up on a Sunday morning or a Wednesday evening. And we get to hear from everyone . . .it does get late, but it’s well worth the time!

Anyway, changing the subject, I am anxiously awaiting word from Japheth . . . They are supposedly in Chaing Mae sleeping right now. Several different things increasing my stress level have made me become impatient to hear his reassuring voice. Maybe this is just God’s way of making me more dependant on the “Rock that is higher than I” . . . So I cry out to Him . . . Japheth Jr. heard me crying this afternoon and came downstairs saying, “Mama, we’ll pray for you.” How sweet and precious little ones are!

"Surely the Lord God will help me, . . . Let him (me) trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his (my) God." Isaiah 50:9

No Matter What!

Praise be to God!!!!!!!!!!

When Japheth called with this news a measure of relief flooded through me.

Surgery went fine . . . Wayne has to wear a patch over the eye for a while (not sure how long) but he keeps wanting to pick it off. His one hand is still taped down with IV’s . . . Japheth will be busy keeping both of his little hands off the bandage once that hand is released.

They are staying overnight at the hospital there . . . their room even has a balcony! The nursed brought a crib in for Wayne so Japheth is using the hospital bed. ;) He had the back propped up and was holding Wayne when he called. Wayne had just downed his second full bottle! Japheth hadn’t eaten anything either . . . so there were two hungry guys after everything was done!

Judi’s surgery went well also. They had to do two muscles in her eye, one for moving up and down and one for moving sideways. She was still recovering from being put out. I can’t wait to see the “new” looks on both of them!

I was reading Psalm 30 this morning . .
.”O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me.”

I praise the Lord for that healing . . . but even if things wouldn’t have or will not go as we desire them to, I will still bless the Lord . . . He doeth all things well. He giveth and He taketh away; blessed be his name. He is God. He is allowed the privilege to do as He will and I will always praise Him. He is My Creator, My Shepherd, My King, The Lover of my Soul, My Rock . . . God is good no matter what! He loves me no matter what, and I love and trust Him no matter what!

Thanks for praying with us!

Friday Bills and Japheth fly up to Chaing Mai to visit Deanial Yoder (Val’s oldest son) and Lee Hess (Bill’s oldest son) who have just gotten back from an adventuresome trip to Packistan, while they wait for the eyes to heal. Then they will come back to Bangkok and see the doctor again and make sure they don’t need an adjustment.

We’re getting anxious to see and feel them again. I miss the baby I used to have in my arms. I miss Japheth’s arms around me . . .

. . . But in God’s hands they are in good hands.

My Guys

Just received this today . . . Japheth and Wayne getting ready to order Thai food. Japheth especially enjoys the pinapples and lemondaides. When we were over there two years ago, he relished the food quite a bit more than I did although I loved the fruits too!

Tonight while we sleep (or maybe you sleep) Wayne and Judi undergo surgery. Wayne's fisrt at 4:00 our time. He's not supposed to eat from 8:00 AM their time till the surgery at 3:00 PM. I hink he will be a pretty fussy little guy to care for right now!

God bless you for caring enought to pray for them.

Sunday evening in church at about 5:30 Japheth Jr. patted me and whispered, "Mom, the sun's gone to Thailand now."

Wings of Prayer

I was telling someone the other day that I have really felt the prayers of people these past few days.  No, life isn’t perfect, but you feel the grace in abundance to meet the struggles and issues head on.  Things have been going so well, not that we haven’t had things to iron out and struggles in adjusting to a routine here at home with two different “parts” of families left behind, but that I’ve been upbeat about it all.  Several people have called and I got the impression that they thought I might be feeling down, they were surprised at how “chipper” I sounded.  Well, it was of the Lord.

This afternoon that changed.  I was quite emotional and several small things just made the tears course down my cheeks.  I almost canceled going to family night because I knew I would break down again . . . and I hate that.  I did go though.  I thought I’d gotten it all out of my system . . .  well as usual, I didn’t make it . . . I couldn’t hide my feelings long.  

So Loraine and Jeremiah and I came home early and I sent them to bed.  I was thankful for a quiet house . . .  after they finally stopped calling for Mom and went to sleep.

Later I called Japheth.  It is Sunday morning there.  He said that they were planning to visit a Baptist church in the city there that would be in English . . . But with all the big days for Wayne (he was so tired and grumpy),  Japheth (being the good Papa that he is) decided to give up his plans and stay behind with Wayne and let him rest.

So we had a good time talking together . . .  Later I told him, “This feels like when  we were dating, all the phone time together, sharing and praying, laughing and crying, just loving hearing your deep strong voice and waiting for the day when we can be together again!”

I told him about my day, since he hadn’t gotten my emails yet, and he said in a sober voice, “You know why? I forgot to pray for you this morning.”  It hit me again.  Prayer is so important.  I had to admit to him too that I have backed off in my prayers for him now that he’s safely there and it’s interesting when he left a message for me this afternoon while we were out, he sounded tired and a bit discouraged, (Wayne keeps wetting his clothes and the pampers stay fairly dry ;) He does that quite a bit for me too.)  And that was one of the small things that got me down, that he sounded tired and discouraged.  Up till now he has sounded excited, happy, and cheerful.

  So I repented of  my lack in the command to “Pray without ceasing” and to “Pray for one another.”  Prayer is vital and so important.  So many times if I don’t see evidence, I subconsciously wonder what good it really does.  So with that “kick in the pants” I determined to do better and with God’s help I will!

Okay, I know . . .  this is my third post for today.  Now you know,  I do really miss my husband!!!!!!

Grandpa and the Fish Symbols

This afternoon while we were napping the girls ventured out to Grandpa's shop to see what he was doing. He stopped his work and made them each a fish symbol out of a thin strip of wood. So my three, after naps thought that they too should make a vistit next door. :) Sure enough they came back carrying a smaller version of the same! This made my day.

I appreciate very much the Grandpa my children have. And something so simple as these fish touched my heart. Grandpa giving of his time to make the children smile.

I Will Lift Up MIne Eyes

I’m considering wearing an apron.

About a year ago a lady told me that her mom, who had twelve children, always wore an apron. When she needed time alone she would just throw her apron up over her head and cry out to God.

Today I needed some extra quiet time alone. The children getting insufficient naps this afternoon needed extra supervision. So I brought my Bible down to the living room and read and cried and prayed in the midst of the “storm” of play and chatter. I thought of this Godly lady and wished a bit for an apron to hide the signs of tears, for privacy in my talk with God.

I remember seeing my Mom reading her Bible in the living room. I like to see Japheth with his Bible too. I love to watch him pray and commune with His Friend! There is a certain sense of security in knowing that those you love, those who are leading you enjoy spending time with God and have their heart in tune with Him.

I decided that it was alright after all. I do want my children to see where I draw my strength from. I want them to see me in communion with my Lord. I want them to feel secure in my relationship with Jesus! Can I give them this “gift”?


“I will lift up my mine eyes unto the hills – From whence cometh my help. MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH . . .” Psalm 121:1

“Being brave doesn’t mean there aren’t any tears . . . it’s going on in the midst of them.”

Safe and Sound

This morning I talked with Japheth again.  I am so pleased with the phone connection when he calls.  Other times when we have called from here there is this lag and it is a bit confusing and hard to converse very well.  But the two times that he has called it sounds clearer and nearer than when he calls me from his cell phone here close at home!  Before he left he had purchased a calling card that you actually call someplace in England or Britain and they call Thailand something like a conference call and it is only fourteen cents a minute . . .LOTS better than two dollars and twenty cents that the motel wanted to charge them to use the phone there!  Anyway, I was thrilled to be able to hear them safe and sound  and getting caught up on their sleep.

Japheth said that Wayne has done so well sleeping and being happy.  He has become very clingy though, which is to be expected considering being away from home and Mom and in the midst of all those “crazy noises and sights.  

They have seen the resident doctor . . . she wants the specialist to do the surgery (and so do we).  He comes to this hospital on Mondays and Wednesdays.  So Monday they will see him and then the surgery is planned for Wednesday, which would be our Tuesday night.  They are about thirteen hours ahead of us.  Like this morning when Japheth called I got to hear about his Friday.  And they are ready to hit the sack.  Jet lag is going pretty well.

Tomorrow they plan to go to the safari.