the journey ends

Walking New Paths

 We had to make an unexpected trip to Washington this week.  We received some news that made the impending snow storms and slippery mountain passes of no consideration.  It was just Minda and I.  Our first such trip.  I can't tell you how much I prayed as we climbed up into the fog.  The rain was a sweet friend.  Our trip was not for happy circumstances and it seemed only right to let it pelt the van with it pattering rhythms and clouded visions.

 

We drove in companionable silence most of the way.  Photographing things that caught our attention, listening to Girl of the Limberlost, sipping our water - the endless highway ahead of us. When it began to clear I wasn't prepared for God's grace to flood over me, but it did.

A promise of His presence and protection.  It was bright and big and full, and suddenly so was my spirit.  Moses Lake came more quickly after that.   

 Then there were friends who wanted to get together, and business affairs to take care and, of course, the main reason we traveled over 3 mountain passes for 8.5 hours in the middle of winter...

My mama was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer.  She is an amazing lady, though.  Joyfully abiding in the life she has left, ready to enter the arms of Jesus if a miracle doesn't occur, and peacefully letting go of all this world has to offer...  I cry because I'll miss her, 'naught for else'.  She is coughing almost continually and wears out when a long fit occurs, but she takes it in stride.  She is inspiring.  I doubt, even with the promise of Heaven, that I would take it all so graciously.
My big brother, Kyle, was able to join us several days too.  Including the night we arrived.  His girl, Emily, snapped this photo.
It was a blessed time together.  Just what I had prayed for. We'll be returning several times over the next few months.  You can pray with us for continued safety and sweet times together.

Hello 2010!

WARNING!  LONG, RAMBLING TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE AHEAD!

10 years into a new century already?  I remember thinking about this day when we entered this era.  Looking back on the last 10 years is mind boggling.  Hard to believe some things were 10 years ago, and other things seem more like a millenia ago - "10 years?!  That couldn't have been just 10 years!"
10 years ago I was a homeschooling mother of a 10, 8, & 6 year old, had been married for 11 years & was the ripe 'ole age of 29.  We had been out of Bible College and back at our home church for 6 years.  J had just stepped down from leading worship at every service while working 60 hrs. a week selling Hondas, and we were heading into a downward spiral with God, our friends, our relationship, & life in general.  I am so thankful our God is the God who redeems, who rebuilds, who refreshes, and who holds us close to His heart. 

2000 was one of the longest years of my life.  I came to the end of myself in many ways (I think there are still ends to come to), and so did J.  God began to show us the grace of His soveriegnty. We began a journey to relearn what the Gospel of Jesus really is.  We began to be set free from having to 'do' because of man-imposed requirements and expectations, and to 'do' from the outflow of what was happening in us and who Jesus is. 

I just finished reading through the book of John again & the thing that stuck out to me most was that Jesus did nothing, said nothing, went nowhere without the leading of His Father.  He made no apologies for doing or saying or going because it wasn't His choice, His will, or His way.  This is what God has been working in us for a decade... What can I say?  We're slow.

We were so hungry for this new found grace.  We ate up every podcast, sermon, book, or article that explained further, helped us go deeper, and gave our hearts' cry validity.  Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Tim Keller, Alistar Begg, Rick McKinley, Donald Miller, Jon Eldredge, AW Tozer, CS Lewis, Voddie Baucham, Greg Harris, and many others nutured what the Holy Spirit was doing in us. 

Even though soverignty was more validated than it ever had been in our lives, we still had questions of "why?", for us, it was taking so long to step into the calling we knew existed.  Men we hardly knew saw it on our lives, but those who were closest to us seemed not only to ignore it, but squelch it.  Why was God allowing it?  Did we have more to learn?  Were we still becoming those who could hear The Father's voice? 

I heard, just 3 years ago, about a study done by a man named Richard Rohr.  I don't agree with everything I have read, but this made my spirit leap when I heard it.  It was on a man's life journey and the things necessary for a man to fully become what he is called to be.  He graphed it, which I can't show you here, and at certain points along the graph were divergences.  Something significant needed to happen in order for the journey to continue upward toward the positive life.  One of those things happens around the age of 25 (the age J was when we were returning from Bible college), and again around the age of  30 (about the age he was in 2000).  I wish we had known this then.  Friar Rohr showed this: 

· Men must have the affirmation and guidance of wise mentors. 

· Men have a need and a responsibility to mentor future generations.

We already knew it by the time we were shown the study.  J had desperately longed for someone to not only see his potential but to nuture it and give him a path of opportunity to grow in it.  He also desired to have young men to disciple - to follow him as he followed Christ; to see them come into their callings; to see them become disciplers.

Hindsight is always clearer than foresight, right?  We know now that not having those things lit a fire beneath our spiritual butts.  We became passionate & intetional in seeking out wise men who would give affirmation and guidance to J., and encouraging others to not wait for it to happen.  And, J. began to seek out those men with hungry hearts to be discipled - to ask the tough questions, & to encourage and support as they began their upward journey.  Being believed in does something to our needy human hearts.  Hindsight doesn't bring comfort to the past, but it does offer peace.  With peace we can move forward.
Our current place in this journey, 10 years along, has more leaning on knowing God so fully and completely that there is no need of further understanding.  But, golly, it's hard to let go of our humaness.

"If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here!  How will in be known that Your people and I have found favor in You sight except that You go with us?"  Ex.33:15&16  I'll say even more - How will Your Name be exalted in the earth, How will Your people and I ever go beyond, How will The Father be glorified if You do not go with, before and behind us?  I believe 2010 is the beginning of an epoch - The beginning of a new period marked by radical changes and new developments beyond what is humanly possible; the telling of which will draw the hearers "further up and further in".

Want to come?

Meeting Marion

Shaun and Anna flew up to Spokane with the kiddlets for Joel and Courtney's big day! Hard to believe it was only a few short years ago we were celebrating their special day!

Wasn't long before our nephew and niece were in our arms. Conner played with the 3 other 2 year old boys, but he ran up to me twice just to pat his sister and rub noses with me! He gave Uncle Jim knuckles several times just to hear him 'explode'. Marion fell asleep soon after I took over from Joel and James, and I didn't give her up for very long the rest of the evening.

I'm blessed that we were able to see her at this age and that they are close enough that it will only be a few months before we see all of them again. They change so quickly! We last saw Conner in April, he was talking, but now he is speaking in sentences and has quite the sense of humor.
He knew us all by name! I can't describe the joy of being called by name by that raspy voiced little man.

Cassia was really the only one I passed Marion off to besides her mama. Can't wait to see my daughter as a mama, she is such a natural, just like her Auntie Anna. We didn't get many photos since our hands were occupied with all the preciousness. I can't wait for Christmas!

Welcome to our world!

Joel Patrick Moore. Little brother to Kalen Charles. Second son to Naomi and Peter.
Child of the King.

16 Going on...

Our baby, Malinda, turns 16. The birthday girl requested Quiche for breakfast. The scent of bacon, Marco Polo cheese, basil and scallions filled the kitchen.

Happy, celebration Quiche!

Candles awaiting the big blow.

Wishing

And an anchor of love, loyalty and friendship.

All of which she already posseses and bestows with abundance.

Happy brithday beautiful girl. We love you.

celebrating life

Baby robins
Baby Amelia

Baby Lucy

Father, dear

Glancing back over my shoulder

How did Sunday come so soon??
What a strange, busy week. Driver's tests, new jobs, beginning of Ultimate frisbee league, new hairstyles, snow and a golf tournament. (+ all the friends dropping in and us dropping by their places...)

As you know, from below posts, both Cassia and Tof are licensed to drive.

We popped over Tuesday to see Matt, Sara, Bella & 4 day old Lucy. She is absolutely precious. We sat for hours and listened to her newborn song of hums, and sighs. She made us laugh with her stretching, pouting faces. Bella showed us some Yoga moves, before running off (in snowboots, 2 coats, and 2 layers of clothings as well! - did I mention the crazy weather?) with Nana to fly a kite.

Minda began nannying several little ones (2.5 yrs, 1 yr., 4 months), & Tofer has been doing some part time landscaping while also putting in applications at several establishments.

The guys joined the local Ultimate Frisbee league and I got to see my husband in a Hawaiian shirt for the first time ever! (They are team 'Aloha'!) It was a FREEZING, blustery evening, but they came home with a win and smiles! (the girls stayed home and watched 7 Brides for 7 Brothers)

Minda also began the journey of dredlocks this week. She ordered a kit for Elements of Earth - a comb, lock peppa, and wax. She's excited!

The weather has been absolutely crazy! We have had no real 'summer' weather since last Sunday! Wind, rain, thunderstorms, more wind and then, yesterday, it snowed! Thank you, Jesus for a warm, cozy home!

J played again this year in the Young Life golf tournament. When he played last year they had amazingly hot weather and beautiful blue skies. This year they played in high winds and, at the final holes, in rain. To add to the fun, they came in dead last! Dead last, for a good cause. :o) He loves this group of guys, so it didn't matter (too much) that it was hack golf - he had a great time!

It's Definitely Spring!

We have been welcoming babies like crazy since we got back to Bozeman, and have several more due over the summer!! Here are a few snapshots of the new life blossoming around us!

Hudson William

Lucy MaeSandhill Cranes in the pasture

It's Official!

His assessor reminded him of Grama Judy! :o) She went out with a look of, "Off to put my life in the hands of another teenage boy...", and returned beaming. Whispered I had a nice boy. :o) I did, but he's a man now. 18 and licensed! Watch out world!

I'm Back

I would love to write a post about all that has happened since the last time I posted, but I think that would be way too long. So how about just some *highlights*?

In March we moved out of our home of 2 years on the Bridgers to a home God miraculously provided in Bear Canyon on the other side of the valley.

We didn't stay much longer than to unpack necessities before we drove over the mountains to Washington and into Mom & Dad's lives for the next month +.So as to not get behind on school, my mom gladly had us down to her place each morning. We left all our books there and just picked up each day where we had left off.

J. continued to seek God's plan for a new job and began filling out 20+ questionaires for Acts 29.

A29 is a church planting network that has had great success with the churches they have begun and pastors they have approved for lead planters. We had begun this process even before we moved from Washington, but put it on the back burner when we got the call to Bozeman.

In the meantime, Shaun, Anna, & Conner came up twice from Portland to be with us; Mom, Dad, J. and I went on a Rattlesnake Hills wine tour; Friends, Peter, Naomi and Kalen Moore (and Peter's brother, John) stopped in on their way through from Yakima; A day was whiled away in Leavenworth and Blackbird Island; We got together with oodles of friends at their homes & at Starbucks - (ahhhhh, Washington...); had meetings with elders to seek wisdom and find their hearts toward us one of love and excitement for our future; attended an MFI regional; and learned to knit!

At the end of April, J had finalized all the steps in A29 up to the assessment. Tyler (co-ordinater/director) called Wed. afternoon to tell us our appointment was set for Thurs. at 8 AM!! We packed quickly, made hotel reservations, and headed out!

J. and I hadn't had any time away (for anything other than a conference) for 3 years or more. We decided to do the assessment and then stay on San Juan for 2.5 days before driving back to Moses Lake.

It was beautiful. There is nothing, NOTHING like western Washington when the sun is happy and the wind is breathless.

We got the news on San Juan that we had been approved to be lead planters! Our next step would be to return to Bozeman and gather a core team of 40 adults. We already knew we had 4. One couple had approached us about this possibility, & another couple had come in on the prospect while we were in ML.

Sunday, our church family in ML prayed over us, layed hands on us, and commissioned us to be sent out to Bozeman.

God has done some miraculous things since we arrived home. Seeing Him working is truely amazing. We find ourselves at a loss for words often, but I never seem to be at a loss of tears. My heart is overwhelmed by His love.

This past Wednesday was the pay-off of the last 18 years of homeschooling. The kids officially graduated from Highschool!!! Onward into the big, wide world with hearts filled to the fullest with God! So blessed that their delight is in Him. I'll keep you posted on what happens next, but for now they are job hunting and getting drivers licenses, and want to be a part of this plant with their dad!

We had a big gathering at the house Friday to celebrate the Grads, Tofer turning 18, and our arrival home. 60+ people ended up coming out for hotdogs, bratwursts, ultimate frisbee, and fellowship. It was fabulous!

Across the valley, in a pool of water, surrounded by family, our dear friends had their baby while we were all partying. Lucia Mae (Lucy) Janssen arrived to be a little sister to Bella. I love you Sara (& Matt) - Can't wait to hold her and hear Bella chatter on about all her wonders! Hugs, sweet mama.

That about wraps it up. Please keep us in your prayers, hearts, & thoughts as we have a long road ahead and need God to be the One opening the doors and leading the way. I'll be updating a bit more regularly now - Promise!