My cup overflows

Have you ever just sat down and thought about how much you love people?  Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, maybe it's a bunch of other stuff happening in my life, or maybe it's just a good dose of God lovingly showing me how blessed I am. 

Nate's a wonderful husband - I like what he stands for, how he cares for us, and how much we've grown together in a short time.  He's a great mix of strength and compassion.  I often think of how blessed I am and how glad I am I ended up with him over any other person in the world.

Benson's 15 month birthday was yesterday and for some reason, I spent the day in awe that God would let me parent such an incredible little person.  He has his moments where he pushes boundaries, tests the limits, etc. but for the most part, he is just a really incredible kid.  I like him.  I love him.  I'm SO stinkin' glad he's our son.  I often think of his life and how fortunate we are and what a privilege it is to have children and to be parents.

I'm getting more and more excited to meet our new little one, too. I am excited to see who he/she is and for our family to grow in love and grace together.  We get to hopefully find out the gender on December 1.  Yippee!!!!  So far, from our pool of April preggo ladies, one is having a girl, one is having a boy and two of us don't know yet.  It's really so much fun to be pregnant together!

I could go on and on at how blessed I feel by family, friends, coworkers, even strangers.  But I'll stop by saying that I know Who these blessings come from and I'm so grateful!

*for some reason, I can't upload more pics to this blog.  I'll try more later. I must go get ready for a girls trip to DC :) :) :)

Walkin' in the Woods

Please try your very hardest to ignore my "cheering" Benson on... Yikes.

He's in the business

We've been going through some crazy stuff lately in our lives.  Hard, good, intense, thought-provoking, praying sort of stuff.  And it's been good.

God has been so faithful and just today as I was driving to a friend's house to pray, I sensed God saying to me:  "I'm in the business of producing fruit".  I love that.  This season is not without fruit and harvest and blessing and glory to God.  That makes me happy :)

And, because you all want to see some cute pics of B, here goes :)

Taking each step unto the One who created them...

I will tell you of a pretty cool journey we've been on in this home of ours...

I'm used to facing some judgement, some comments and "advice" due to the profession or calling I've chosen to pursue, or rather that has pursued me :)  At times, it has felt like a lonely place, like no one "gets it".  But I know people do, and I know God does.  God has been SO FAITHFUL to us over the years - first me as a single gal and now to us as a couple.  For a number of months, we have known we can't "make it" on what Nate makes and knowing some supporters have backed out of giving to my support (which is fine, God is our provider) made this realization well, a little more real.  Before the story below occurred, we both felt prompted that I should continue working (probably fewer hours) after our second child is born. I know, more comments and advice and judgement.  I can't help what God is asking me to do - I'm just going to OBEY.

Nate went to his employer (a ministry - non-profit) a number of weeks ago to ask for a raise and was told that everyone needs to sacrifice to work there.  That statement made me angry and made me laugh (after I got over the anger).  For anyone who knows us, sacrifice isn't something we are afraid of.  But there's a difference between sacrifice and being able to make it.   One question I had, though, was can we make it on less?  Maybe we can.  I am often convicted about what we "make it on" and what most of the world survives on.  By the world's standards, though we are not rich in America's standards, we are RICH.  Very, very, ridiculously rich. Maybe this is less about God giving us what we think we need to survive and more about us learning His sufficiency even more.  Seems crazy to me, since I think that's how I've been living for 5.5 years... But I do think we all have more to learn in this area. 

Since that time, we have had many people tell us (out of love) that we should move on, Nate should find a different job, even something he doesn't like doing, so he can provide better for our family. (and I've had those same thoughts) Do we have peace about this idea?  No, not at all.  We keep sensing God telling us to trust Him and to be faithful, even when it's hard.  To trust Him to provide for us (does this mean we will make an idol out of our callings?  I hope not!).  Does this mean it will be a tough road ahead?  Probably.  We squeak by as it is and to think about adding one more child to the mix makes that seem more daunting.  But I'm sure hopeful I'll learn even more in this season.  The reality is, God hasn't shown us a different path, a different way, so all we can assume is that THIS IS IT.  This is where we need to be.

Nate traveled a couple of weeks ago and it was one of the worst trips for me yet.  You'd think after 2.5 years of this, I'd be a pro at seeing him go but I'm not.  After struggling with fear, MANY tears, and wondering what in the world had gotten into me, I was able to let go of any bitterness and anger at those who think we need to sacrifice more, to just deal with it, etc.  I realized I could not joyfully release Nate because I was mad at people he works with. But really, I think I was mad at God. I have to whisper that, because you CAN'T BE MAD AT GOD!!!  Just kidding.  You can be, but I think it's a pretty futile task.  Don't you?  I was mad that sending your husband away 15% of the year isn't sacrifice enough, that not being able to do anything fun isn't sacrifice enough, and on and on I whined... Oh, man.  It was UGLY.

I am reminded of something I prayed for YEARS and stopped - perhaps I should start again - that God would make me sweet for Him.  Sweet to His plans, His ways, to be a blessing to Him and His people, even when I don't want to be.  I was reminded of that again last week, how I want to be sweet (not fake, but just a pleasure for Him).

I have heard many times from many places that "if God's in it, there will be more than enough money".  I don't know about that.  I think if God's in it, there will be peace and joy REGARDLES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.  I would hope if we ever do make more than enough, we will spend our lives giving that away, not living on much more than we make now, because really, we want our lives (and feel called) to be ones of giving and loving, not of having.  I am not opposed to people having things - nice things, many things. I believe we are all called to different things and to different spheres of influence. 

God has blessed Nate and I to be able to work in jobs we love, are passionate about (not a word used lightly here), for less than we could be making, but with what we believe is an eternal blessing (not because our salvation is works based, though!), and we hope our ministries are richer because of the gifts and talents God's given us to share.  We believe God has called us to these roles and walking away right now would be weakness. I believe He's looking for, searching for, and hopefully will find in us, is people who are faithful and not weak, but very strong in Him.

Does this mean we'll be where we are forever?  I don't know.  God does, though, and I can REST in that fact. I can rest knowing He holds the plan and hope for our future.  If He calls us to stay, I pray we're faithful. If He calls us on, I hope we're faithful.  It's exciting, isn't it? Living unto Him who makes it all worth it. 

Our lives aren't full of ease and glamour and fun, but they are filled with faith and blessings - will I be upset if God gives us more? Probably not.  Will I be upset if He doesn't?  I sure hope not.  Character, God. I want you to find that in us.

Can you please pray for us?  Pray that God would make our path very clear - whatever that is - and that we would have the strength to carry on, even when it's tough?  Right now, we are sensing very clearly to stay the course, to obey the last call, but with open arms to anything else He may call us to.  You just never know.  He has all sorts of fun in store, doesn't He?

Hopefully taking each step unto the One who created our steps... 

Jenny (for the fam)

Hooverlet #2

Is on its precious way.

Expected arrival date:
April 17, 2011

Along with a very close friend's #4.  We have the same due date - how fun is that???

Our Christmas Wish List at Work...

This is a little something I worked up for our advancement team.  It's kinda fun to see where $48 could go or $15,000... with everything in between:

Sponsor a GDT Alliance Discipleship Mission Training Program:

Africa: $1,876 (56 programs receiving grants)
Asia: $2,678 (70 programs receiving grants)
Latin America: $4,172 (4 programs receiving grants)

Sponsor one participant to be trained and sent on outreach through a GDT Alliance Program:
Africa: $264 (in 2009, we saw 1,422 trained in Africa)
Asia: $340 (in 2009, we saw 1,244 trained in Asia)
Latin America: $335 (in 2009, we saw 176 trained in Latin America)

Sponsor a GDT Alliance Director to go through Director’s Training:
$862.50 (proposed 137 to go through DT in 2011)

Sponsor a GDT Alliance Director’s Training:
$15,150 (8 Director’s Trainings)

Sponsor a GDT Alliance Director to attend the GDT Alliance Equipping Annual Meeting:
India: $48 (90 participants expected to attend)
Ind-nesia: $48 (35 participants expected to attend)
N-pal: $40 (35 participants expected to attend)
Uganda: $72 (20 participants expected to attend)
Kenya: $44 (35 participants expected to attend)
Ethiopia: $48 (60 participants expected to attend)
South Africa: $64 (25 participants expected to attend)
West Africa: $48 (15 participants expected to attend)
Latin America: $60 (20 participants expected to attend)

Surprise Blessings

I am continually convinced that God is all about surprising us, blessing us.  Right now, we are in the process of discerning God's heart in so many circumstances. 

As you know, I raise support and Nate works at a non-profit.  We have chosen to obey God even though that means making sacrifices.  It's not always easy, but we are so blessed.

Today, because God is good and He loves to surprise His children, a dear friend and coworker blessed us with a very generous gift - one that her church passed on to her and she passed on to us.

This is just a tangible example of God's love for us.  Thank you, Lord for providing for us - especially when we wonder if we're doing the right thing :)  Now we can get our car fixed!