Thankful for our regroup time in Leavenworth before trekking to Okanogan. Family time was at an all time high in Hawaii, and going into 2 weeks of busy-ness, we knew we better slowly adjust to this Change is good, like last week's post shared, but we all handle it a little differently, so slowly transitioning seemed smart. Leavenworth did not disappoint! School is still in session here, so it was really empty, leaving all the ice cream & candy stores ready for us! Yum!🙌
Thankful this week for the believers in Okanogan. Their steadfast labors to serve this area, in a small yet mighty force, has been a blessing to us and an encouragement. Their consistency has been key & the relationships made over the years are many!
Thankful for Tom & Ruth & their sidekick for the 2 weeks, Brady. Their kindness to share one of their 5th wheels with us, as well as everything & anything else, is pretty mind blowing.
⇻Matt & I talked about how we need to be less committed to our personal things- somehow we have a hard time sharing our adult things? (Maybe this is why we totally 100% know how hard it is for our kids to share too!)
How does one give up a truck for us to use all week while ours is shipped? There was no warning about "be careful with my truck", or " don't let your kids blink in my truck because they will no doubt stain something". Just here are the keys, enjoy. Wow. Thank you Hale family!
Same with Tom & Ruth's 5th wheel. This thing is a beaut. Yet no directions on how to use it and take care of it. They somehow trust us to be adults in here and manage it, (not sure how they think we know what we're doing ;) ).
But it gives us a clearer perspective to how we can share our blessings with others in a not so controlling way. I feel like if I shared my expensive beautiful 5th wheel with a family with 3 very rowdy kids ( who mine??), this is hypothetical of course ;), that I would basically have a laminated to do check list of all the Dos and Dont's. And be kinda crazy. But none of that crazy is shown to us & we so appreciate it. So. So. So.
We see others share and share. We are excited to be around believers who demonstrate such good qualities and we hope to take a few pages from their book!
Thankful to have colder weather here! We have seriously been bundled daily and look forward to next week's 98 degrees!
Thankful for the 1st night of meetings going well. The sched this year is different. Normally 1st week has VBS in morning, teen time in afternoon and Gospel in evening. The 2nd week is the catch your breath week with teen time only in afternoon and Gospel each night. This year it's flipped. VBS the 2nd week. With that said, we thought the initial week of Gospel could be smaller in turnout.
WRONG.
We serve a crazy, powerful, God who wants all men to be saved.
So He packed the tent.
Prayed for more seats to be added.
Brady had to get up and get another row of seats added.
So good. So encouraging. Singing is terrible in a tent, but still love love love the old school gospel tunes that are heralded & the gusto with which we all belt them out!
No 'squito bugs either last night & a sleeping son helped for a great 1st night!
My soul sis Stacie lives here, you know that friend who you never text, and haven't seen for two years, but when together, it's like there was never separation...yeah.. Her. She's all that💗.
Love her outta the norm personality and her ability to share Gods love in such REAL ways with those around her. Of course she brought a truck full of friends to hear the word last night.
From island life to small town life, we are thankful that God can use any location and any individual to share in His story and glory. 🙏
After reading an interesting yet inspiring quick read "The Very Worst Missionary" by Jamie Wright, I understand how we need to invest in relationships within the community that empower the community members to a more constructive life. A new outlook was had last night after the last page... An outlook to just love everyone (even the annoyingly clingy people or the ones who ignore you or the ones who hurt you)
Taking up the command to love our neighbor, by using some help from Bob Goff too, loving those hard to love people just 30 seconds at a time, should be a recipe for success!
(I'll let you know, but don't hold your breath, it takes this hot mess express chick a whole lotta time to process & actually do it!)
And now we sip on the amazing espresso that flows like water here while enjoying the crisp air for a few more days.
Only 5 more sleeps until my amazing in laws and niece Gracie join, as well as my mom and Ray! And without even planning it.. we will all be together for Father's Day Sunday... So incredibly cool.
#watchoutWA #weallsortsofcrazy
(The sunset here happens at like 10pm! This was taken at 8:30pm, and yes the sun setting most def messes with our kids sleep scheds. Sunrise: 4:30am and yes you guessed it. They're up!)
Hannah climbs that ladder to her cute little loft, which makes this crazy mom sleepless! Why am I such a nut!?
It feels like a preventable injury, just sleep on the floor already little miss!
But nope, the bed up there is cozy, and her little space is perfect! So this helicopter momma better say a real prayer and leave it with God!
(I have unintentionally been waking up all night to make sure she is not about to roll off ... maybe tonight will be better!
Only a few more days, then she is at the hotel with the grandparents!)
Just Matt's luck that there was no parking on the main road, so he had to give in to his wife's request to "just look at the cute free fishing thing" that was posted.
With just 30 minutes left of the once a year free fishing event, we parked front row, did the 5 booths to get our passports stamped, and then fished in a small yet crazily stocked trout pond!
The park rangers were INCREDIBLE.
They basically caught all our fish, and let us have the joy of reeling it up! They used the wooden "bonker" to kill it ( Poor Hudson may be scarred deep). He had no idea why we would kill fish and why they are so bloody and why oh why would we eat them!? But such an incredible FREEBIE!
Matt seasoned those babies up, grilled them and with some amazing sides compliments of Ruth, we had a really tasty nearly free supper!! Hollla!!!
You are almost 13, yet you def act 16 already. But when you sleep you are angelic and perfect. You are so special and so loved.
Beautiful pictures! I was cracking up at you waking up while Hannah's sleeping in her little loft...I get you girl. 😉
ReplyDeleteAlso, Hudson and the fish scene...😂😂😂.