Hiking In Grace & Capturing My View

Gratitude: When You Can’t Reach It Alone

09.23.13

Mango chews on her ball like chewing gum.

She looses her ball under the furniture.

All. The. Time.

She lays there and stares at it.

She needs someone to help her retrieve it.

Mango needs our physical help to get that ball.

I wonder if Mango lays there and desperately prays, “God send someone to help me!”

She certainly pauses every so often and begs for someone to help her. Pleading with her soft brown eyes and fuzzy perked up golden ears.

There was a fantastic post on friendship a while ago on the Allume website.

It reminded me of how “wealthy” I truly am when it comes to friends the Lord has blessed me with.

I honestly believe several of the women that are dear to me were direct answers to prayer.

Many times in my life I have needed help to attain what I longed for.

I wanted out of depression but couldn’t attain it without help.

Often we need someone to come along side and help us reach what we can’t seem to reach alone.

I prayed/begged God to send someone to help me escape depression.

I had come to realize that I couldn’t do it alone.

I needed guidance and encouragement from someone not standing in the midst of my storm who could give clarity to things I couldn’t see. God sent along a wise woman named Marlene, who has become a dear friend beyond the walls of the counseling office. She is a faithful prayer partner and is always there when I need advice about almost anything from raising kids to cooking on my glass cook-top stove.

There have been times I have cried out to the Lord for assistance regarding other areas of life and God sent it along, not always right away but eventually, in His perfect timing.

On the mission field, I longed for someone, a mentor, who was a few miles down the trail ahead of me in ministry that I could learn from. A mature Christian who’d “been there, done that”, who could tell of the dangers on the trail ahead because they already hiked that section. Or who could tell me of the blessing of something that may lay ahead on the trail of life. He sent along a veteran missionary who also became a close dear friend. Bon helped me in so many ways to adapt to the culture I was in. She helped me see many things from a different perspective. She and her wise husband helped me take my first steps out of the box I had been living in.

This past year as the Lord was drawing us back to home-schooling, He sent along another wise woman who has home-schooled both of her sons. Barb and her husband have raised two godly young men who are on fire for the Lord, and are leading their own Christ-centered families. I am thankful for this couple who take the time to share nuggets of wisdom that they have found on their hike with the Lord.

This is what mentoring is all about.

It is what discipleship is all about.

Coming along side and helping one grow; and we all need to keep growing in grace no matter how long we have been hiking with Christ.

One thing all three of these ladies have in common that is the best characteristic of all?

All three of them LOVE to study God’s word. And they faithfully apply it to their daily lives.

God is always faithful to send exactly who I need each time I ask for help. Each of the women God has sent along have been tremendous encouragers to me, speaking His Truth into my life, and they have all become dear friends.

No matter where I live in the world, God always sends someone along, and meets that request.

As I watched the (in)RL webcast this past April, this post was forming in my mind. Over and over the ladies of (in)courage repeated this very message during their section about mentoring. (These are a few of the things I had spoken about when Sally of (in)courage interviewed me at Allume last October. Alas, I ended up on the proverbial cutting room floor. Even so, much of what I said was pretty much verbatim what many of the ladies in the section on mentoring said.)

Repeatedly.

Over and over.

So many said the very same thing.

Ladies, do ya think God is trying to get our attention?

Do you long for a mentor to help you grow in your walk with the Lord? Ask Him to send her along.

Is there an area in your life that you would like help with? Ask Him to send her along.

Ask. Him.

I am so very thankful I have. All three of these women have been a tremendous blessing to me, and in turn have blessed my family, as we all hike toward home together.

:: :: ::

I haven’t posted here since May 7… so today this list is a long one! 🙂

1671. chatting under the stars with the Kelly’s

1672. commercial lawn mower from J&J

1673. then J came over to teach me how to tame the beast, what a riot that was!

1674. finishing the lawn in two hours- the ENTIRE lawn!! (about 3 acres)

1675. sound of water rushing down the creek nearby

1676. full double rainbow

1677. the women God brought together for our last Bible study group (1,000 Gifts DVD study)

1678. her pointing out the difference between now and when I first came to her Bible study in 2011

1679. freshly cut grass perfuming the air

1680. tulips bursting colorfully in the Governor’s Palace garden, Williamsburg, VA

1681. one stray crimson tulip stretching upward at the end of the driveway

1682. tadpoles on the kitchen counter

1683. God answers prayerful questions and gives understanding;

1684. …Pastor Josh preaching on Acts 15&16 especially the circumcision of Timothy;

1685. …that understanding quenching fiery darts- finally

1686. Gorgeous formal found cheap!

1687. her radiant smile

1688. double rainbows

1689. golf cart racing

1690. white wisteria

1691. fluffy goslings

1692. laughter of girlfriends

1693. their facial expressions when listening to me read aloud

DSCF5485

1694. waterfall

1695. their adventurous spirits

1696. hiking as a family

1697. my oldest son playing the part of the hoodlum in the Spring drama

1698. such expression in her voice and on her face as she performed her “reader’s theater”

1699. youngest singing out strong and clear

1700. youngest son playing his instrument with confidence

1701. enjoying Rita’s with Beverly

1702. R & J exploring the creek with pant legs pulled up

1703. juicy pears

1704. his tears for a loved one’s salvation

1705. overtime

1706. early morning fog

1707. her text message that I missed my calling: Dentistry

1708. A’s lost her second tooth

1709. she wants “to learn more about Jesus” when she “grows up”

1710. stink bug in the light fixture

1711. …that we have working light fixtures

1712. his feet hurt…

1713. …he has a job

1714. …he is working overtime

1715. Julia’s mercy toward J

1716. wind making waves of green like the waves of a stormy sea

1717. hummingbird coming close to stare at me

1718. dew glistening in the sunlight

1719. flowers loaded with pollen

1720. daddy-long-legs resting atop blossoms

1721. early morning sunshine

1722. wet grass stuck to bare feet

1723. water droplets flying off Mango’s tennis ball as it bounces in the dewy grass in the early morning sunshine

1724. R brings in dinner plate sized maple leaves

1725. sapphire blue nail polish on toes

1726. quiet morning while kids sleep

1727. the clicking of zippers and snaps spinning in the dryer

1728. their excitement anticipating summer’s arrival

1729. Mango licking Carmel’s face, the young taking care of the old

1730. he buys himself his very own coffee cup- Peanuts

1731. …and gets me one too all blue and dainty!

1732. having a ‘wow’ moment where God did something just for me (see #1717)

1733. female cardinal balancing on the crepe myrtle branch and checking me out, sitting close to the window

1734. …that she came closer and clung to the screen to get a better view

1735. the mess the birds are making on the deck- they chose to grow their family on our deck

1736. stretching rectangles of light reflecting on the floor

1737. Neh. 8:10 “the joy of the Lord is your stregnth”

1738. time with BL over the last few weeks of school

1739. AC stopping me in the store to tell me she has seen a “tremendous” difference in me, encouraging words that I’ve moved in the right direction

1740. spending time with her friends as they helped decorate the fellowship hall for graduation

1741. super soft puppy fur

1742. the scent of honeysuckle

1743. Him quizzing the kids on U.S. History or rather Stan Freeburg’s version of it

1744. rainbow sprinkles scattered across the table

1745. the sound of laughter around the table

1746. MG noticing and pointing out that I hadn’t written in this space in a long time

1747. the quietness of being out on the lake early in the morning

1748. the songs of a multitude of birds

1749. laughter of friends gathered around our table

1750. the sound of bowling pins clattering to the wooden floor

1751. paddling in sync

1752. bald eagles nests (two!)

1753. JG scaring SK so much that he jumped out of his chair

1754. swallow nests under the bridge- more than I could count

1755. huge carp- flash of silver in a cloud of silt

1756. lake like glass

1757. the brilliant blue of the neighbor’s peacock

1758. fresh cut hay striping the field

1759. C being baptized by Pastor Seth

1760. to see a water lily up close

1761. water droplets as silver glitter scattered across large leaves

1762. a clean attic

1763. early morning chatter of the kids playing

1764. babbling brook throughout the miniature golf course

1765. the loud bang of fireworks

1766. feeling the bang in your chest

1767. fireworks that look like weeping willow trees and dandelions

1768. pansies

1769. dahlias

1770. God sent an “angel” named Matt, who was a mechanic, to stop and change my tire on the busy interstate

1771. …the gap in heavy rush hour traffic that God provided for me to get from the far left lane, across four lanes of traffic, to the right shoulder

1772. twenty years of wedded bliss

1773. Carmel’s smile when I scratch her chin

1774. …her white face, she has been with us through half of our marriage and has lived through so many changes

1775. hydrangea blooms from dark purple to deep pink

1776. listening to the steady downpour of rain…

1777. while sitting outside on the porch…

1778. river of water that has formed in the side yard

1779. snuggling on the loveseat with A, J, & R first thing in the morning

1780. lego strewn across the living room floor

1781. two days of the kids being creative, building with legos from their own imaginations

1782. central air conditioning

1783. Emily Wierenga- how God has used her so many times to challenge me to reconsider and seek God about many legalistic opinions I had developed over the last 20 years

1784. Peach Mango scented dog shampoo

1785. mountain of soft dog fur brushed out of Carmel’s coat

1786. morning sun streaming through my windows

1787. softness of cotton

1788. the sight of my dad reading his Bible

1789. cold watermelon

1790. A. looked at me and said, “We can wear shorts.” matter-of-fact-ly as my Dad read a morning headline that said, “Thou shalt not wear shorts” in the Washington Post

1791. a bunny, as small as my hand munching on backyard clover

1792. well kept gardens in Sea Isle

1793. sand under my feet and between my toes

1794. the laughter of girls, giggling quietly after lights out

1795. the quiet thudding of the sound of bugs hitting the window outside, we have windows

1796. SH, his love for God and his wonderfully-crazy, outgoing, on-fire, personality

1797. green ~~toenails~~ toenail polish

1798. morning dove

1799. rooster in the distance

1800. morning sunrise at youth camp

1801. fog filling the valley before the sun arrived

1802. sound of a tractor chuggin’ in the distance

1803. mango’s eyelashes

1804. the scent of the Garden Hideaway Yankee Candle, sitting nearby and not even lit- but I still caught a whiff of it

1805. … the scent of it stirs my memory of going to Wood’s Florist with my mother when I was a little girl. I remember the flagstone floor and the greenhouse to the right and the intoxicating scent that I could never breath in deep enough.

1806. water droplets hanging on the crepe myrtle buds

1807. learning from the children that if you squeeze them it pops open and the flower comes out like a pompom

1808. the sound of water rushing in the creek

1809. cool sand under my bare feet

1810. …perfect night air, cool but not cold

1811. morning sunlight streaming through the blinds of the front room of the cottage

1812. the smell of the salt marsh

1813. J didn’t get but a small scrape when he fell head first down the attic steps

1814. blueberry cobbler flavored coffee

1815. the school bus lumbering by… while my children are still snuggled warm in their beds

1816. we are back to homeschooling again

1817. he still has a job

1818. deer munching on berries in the backyard

1819. texting/chatting with Julie Nevue

1820. recognizing our son’s laughing out in the hallway

1821. TC coming and spending a day with me

1822. A likes school so much she does 2 days worth in one! So thankful she is happy about homeschooling

1823. eating lunch on the porch with the kids

1824. doing flashcards with the boys…

1825. …on the porch

1826. …enjoying the light breeze and cool air

1827. overtime- an answer to prayer

1828. house plants / green and growing in every room downstairs

1829. white hydrangeas / memories of a beautiful wedding

1830. thick fog

1831. silhouettes of trees emerging from the clearing fog

1832. scent of fresh laundry

1833. early morning sunlight falling across the counter, reflecting off the glass lampshade on the candle

1834. starfish lanterns glowing in the living room

1835. he does school when he can’t sleep

1836. R buries his face in her soft furry neck

1837. God enabled me to fix her blog menu

1838. …her joyful scream of happiness that it worked (yes, I screamed too! so thrilled that it worked!!)

Brave {Five Minute Friday}

05.03.13

Last week my younger son and I went on a school field trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia.

As we toured the tiny boat that the Jamestown settlers crossed the Atlantic in to set up new homes in a new unfamiliar land, the bravery of these men who sailed this boat could not be avoided.

It took great courage to face the unfamiliar.

To looked danger in the eye and go forward.

Step onto a very small boat and then again to step out of that boat on to the dirt of a new continent a new world.

They started over from scratch.

Beginning with cutting down trees to build their own homes to face the cold winter.

They faced the occupants of the land they invaded who were not always friendly.

(Would we be friendly if someone came and built a house on our land?)

Though the ones that they dealt with the most were the Powhatans, those of Pocahontas’s origin, were a fairly peaceful bunch.

Their bravery is where we are born from as descendants living here on that soil on which they first stepped.

We then went on to Williamsburg , to a place where brave words were spoken.

Patrick Henry at the young age of 25, boldly declared, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Where would we be without that kind of bravery?

The bravey that it took for the early colonists who became revolutionaries to stand up for their rights, as people, as a country.

They laid their lives, families, and futures on the line for the good of others.

That kind of bravery and patriotism seems to be rare today in our young people of that same age bracket.

There are brave men standing up but there needs to be so many more.

Joining up with Lisa Jo today for Five Minute Friday.

Mango and Carmel

04.17.13

How am I ever to get much work done around here?

Every time the computer opens on my lap I have to deal with this:

Ain’t she cute? Her name is Mango if you are new around here.

There is a reason she is staring at me so intently.

Its because she just did this (below) about a hundred times and I keep ignoring her.

At least I am trying to.

You see this is not the post I was going to write today but she obviously wants to be the center of attention today.

Well, everyday actually.

Know where she keeps putting that ball?

Right here:

And then she barks at me.

She does this over and over.

Picking it up and dropping it in my lap. Over and over.

And when she doesn’t get what she wants she sits and waits and chews on it like it’s a piece of gum.

You know what? It makes me think of how we take things to the Lord over and over in prayer.

We lay some issue in His lap and ask Him to take care of it.

And when He doesn’t answer right away?

We need to just sit patiently like Mango…

And wait.

Because He tells us to.

“Be still and know that I am God” ~ Psalm 46:10

If you showed up here looking for a dessert recipe, I am sorry you were disappointed.

And about Carmel? She is no longer the Alpha dog in our home. I am pretty sure Mango rules the roost around here. Can’t you see her in the background? She was following the leader the whole time.

Is there anything He is telling you to be still about today?

Gratitude: Stepping Out Of Shadows

04.15.13

Standing in the third row, the house lights down and dark while the front of the stage was brightly lit.

A sign in my hands for all to see, stepping forward I held up my sign and people stood up in the audience, silently showing solidarity.

Flipping the sign over to tell of His wondrous work, shouts of “Amen!” rang out from all over the room.

My heart overflowed with joy as I stood and claimed a victory for my Jesus.

Turning to walk back to my place in the choir, she reached out and squeezed my hand.

It was then that my eyes overflowed.

She’s borne the brunt of many harsh words; flowing from a mom whose desire is to give her children the life giving words, whose depression has kept her from even recognizing what life giving words are at times. I praise the Lord for my oldest daughter and for the beautiful woman she is becoming in Christ.

It’s been a long while since I had a Multitudes on Monday post so bear with me; it’s a long one!

1532. unexpected paychecks

1533. clear blue sky

1534. the scent of Sun & Sand Yankee Candles

1535. the flicker of candle light

1536. red-headed woodpecker

1537. light dustings of snow

1538. wisdom from my oldest

1539. she puts her iPod in my ears and tells me to listen, she thinks I need to hear it

1540. and she was right

1541. this crazy Grace that I struggle so hard to wrap my brain around

1542. but that is okay, just one more reason it is so Amazing

1543. God still takes care of us even while doubts swirl

1544. and it is so wonderful that Grace extended to me by God, isn’t anything dependent on me

1545. He patiently waits for me to come back to where I wandered off the trail.

1546. When I make it back to the trail I’m supposed to be on, my Rock is there for me to rest on, in the center of my pathway.

1547. LM- her patience and

1548. her God-given wisdom and

1549. friendship

1550. MB- doesn’t give up on me

1551. text messages sent to let me know she’s praying for me

1552. that the Lord has me on her heart

1553. Two hawks sitting side by side

1554. washing machine spinning out the wet

1555. the company of two attentive Goldens

1556. blog posts by others that really make me stop and think

1557. carpet new enough that it still ‘sheds’

1558. a vacuum cleaner to pick up the carpet fuzz

1559.

“Can I persuade you to accompany me to the lake this afternoon?

It is very well stocked and its occupants have been left in peace far too long.”

Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice makes my husband laugh right out and he claims it as his favorite quote from the movie.

1560. the eloquent language of by gone eras

1561. he sits and draws with me

1562. a cleared usable drawing table

1563. a day spent at Longwood Gardens with the children

1564. they never complained but instead enjoyed themselves

1565. people who take time to send texts to encourage

1566. fog settled in the valleys between

1567. pink and purple playdoh

1568. dogs playing together

1569. the “ugly-leftover-from-the-last-renter-directTV-dish” has finally been removed

1570. a day spent with a friend wandering the conservatory

1571. her joy as she drank in the many varieties of orchids

1572. the scent of lilies

1573. the scent of boxwoods

1574. Her interest in smelling each of the different herbs

1575. the littlest has celebrated another birthday

1576. Their friendship

1577. waking up with “How Can I Keep From Singing?” by Chris Tomlin running through my head

1578. good insurance

1579. with an affordable co-pay

1580. with the Lord’s help, I did not come completely unglued at the discovery of lipstick ruining an entire load of clothes in the dryer

1581. Thankfully, it was only a few school uniforms

1582. actually subbing/teaching 5th grade and enjoying it

1583. a sweet message from Ann in my inbox

1584. Laughter

1585. popcorn

1586. candles that smell good

1587. sugar-free Carmel Macchiato Coffeemate

1588. “Nerv-y” invitation that provided stress-relieving laughter

1589. super soft Hanna Andersen pjs

1590. big boy in striped pjs crawling into my lap

1591. that he still wants to sit in my lap and snuggle up close

1592. soft smooth cheek that brushes my own

1593. his incredibly soft & silky hair

1594. praise and worship rehearsal that goes well

1595. the truth: I am a masterpiece of God -not a doodle on a scrap of paper

1596. They play so well together. They explore the yard as if on a great expedition

1597. blue birds

1598. DH at the dentist office I take my kids to, it was totally a God thing

1599. BK a day spent wandering amid blossoms

1600. funny movies, laughter

1601. being invited to practice

1602. practice not nearly as intimidating as I thought it might be

1603. it was actually quite fun

1604. new Uno cards

1605. playing cards as a family

1606. “We will bring the dominoes. Just get the ice cream.” made me LOL in the middle of Walmart

1607. Even so, we have our own dominoes now.

1608. Kids whispering so they don’t wake up their siblings

1609. Motivation to get the house in order. Looking forward to the first week of July!!

1610. her new fuzzy pink “reading” pillow, is almost as big as she is

1611. she wanted to spend her money on something other than a toy

1612. water droplets hanging from the branch like crystals dangling from a chandelier

1613. the list of good on my timeline of the last six years far outweighs the bad

1614. fresh bread from a dear friend/mentor

1615. seven bald eagles sitting in the trees next to the dam

1616. skating with the family

1617. C was happy we went along afterall

1618. A’s first time on ice, she skated like she was born with skates on her feet

1619. Allume ticket is bought (Thanks Mom!)

1620. Allume room is booked

1621. Allume transportation is all lined up

1622. Allume roomies all set

1623. relationships in the healing process

1624. “Elvis” making an encouraging comment

1625. small class sizes

1626. “Where ever you are, be all there.” ~Jim Elliot

1627. a quiet morning

1628. being curled up on the love-seat together

1629. reading the Word

1630. re-connecting with thought provoking conversation

1631. hearing his thoughts

1632. his view of our life and future desires for our family

1633. contentment- that every one of us truly enjoy the home we are currently residing in

1634. a school day off … without snow

1635. a complete art project done

1636. and I am happy with the finished product

1637. sitting at a table sharing a meal with good friends

1638. listening to them sharing their stories, sharing bits and pieces of their lives

1639. enjoying their presence around our table

1640. laughter of friends

1641. cheesecake

1642. a Cheesecake Factory “factory chopped salad” deliciousness in a bowl

1643. being part of our church’s Easter Program (hence the sign above)

1644. so many lives changed

1645. many encouraging words spoken after facing down a giant, publicly

1646. “I’m in mango heaven!”

1647. a day spent with a good friend

1648. learning how to make bread

1649. it was delicious

1650. cooking Pinoy food together

1651. Apples to Apples

1652. roaring laughter

1653. a confused son, who couldn’t figure out why his mother answered the phone, his friend’s practical joke 😉

1654. more laughter

1655. a wall of mangos

1656. ripe mangos, ready to eat, and very juicy

1657. mango float

1658. knorr sauce

1659. skyflakes

1660. being asked to share my photography with a group of Seasoned Saints

1661. Smuckers Peach Mango jam

1662. clear blue skies

1663. the thermometer going well above 70℉

1664. a decision made

1665. plans made for a trip to Longwood Gardens with a good friend

1666. a single swan gracefully gliding along in the pour rain amidst flashing lightening and rolling thunder

1667. veggie quiche

1668. the aged woman, sitting in her wheelchair, who sang along and knew every single word

1669. five bald eagles, all in one tree

1670. a total of eight bald eagles sitting close by one another

Linking up with Emily today. Click on over and read the other Imperfect Prose.

A Look Back Down The Trail and Hiking Forward

04.05.13

I love the fresh new feeling Spring brings with it.

I have a lot in mind for this space in the coming months.

I intend to redesign and reorganize.

There was a time when I posted several times a week.

What is different and what has hindered me from doing that?

A lot. Mostly life changes.

In 2008, I began a private blog for family and friends to keep them updated with what was going on in our lives since we were living on the “other side,” as my friend Angie’s son used to call it. (He was only about 6 at the time he referred to it that way years before I started writing but just after we move to the Philippines, now he is in high school. Ugh. Where has the time gone?)

In 2009, on my birthday, a decision was made that would drastically change our lives.

On that day, as a gift to myself, I signed up on blogspot and created Hiking Toward Home.

I wrote about my “hike,” my walk with the Lord, and began to post photos of the view along the way, what was going on in my life.

It was my intention for this blog to help me to focus on the bright side and the blessings the Lord showered upon my life by writing about them.

I participated in Tuesdays Unwrapped, linking up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky, to force me to look for the small blessings of the week and chatting about my kids and daily life.

I blogged about very random stuff; what the kids were up too, our international move, the my struggles … with legalism … and the culture … we were living in.

My hike has taken me through many difficult struggles since I began to blog here.

We moved home from the mission field as our work was completed there and passed the church on to national leadership, voting in a new Filipino pastor, under whose leadership it has continued to grow -Praise the LORD!!

Upon returning to the states, my husband was called to pastor a church. Though I wrote frequently, life became harder and harder and I found myself sinking deeper into depression. As the church situation and depression grew worse, I wrote less often.

The Lord allowed for us to walk away from that ministry and brought us into a whole new life; a new church family, a new home, a new job situation for my husband, and a new school situation for the kids and I.

The reasons I didn’t write were varied.

***to be continued***

Don’t miss what’s coming up next! Subscribe for free up in the menu bar at the top of this page and have Hiking Toward Home sent right to your inbox. (Click here if you are reading this in a reader.)