Best decision I have made in a long time..Invest in youth
My favorite part of my week is Wednesday morning at 6:38am as I gather with some teens of our church for coffee, steamers, and iced drinks that are really loud to make. Some also partake in some fresh cinnamon rolls or scone that I will stab with a fork when they aren’t watching. We started getting together at the beginning of the school year to grow in our leadership. We have been going through a book called Habitudes. This made up word is the mix of habits and attitudes.
The first book was about growing ourselves in our leadership and character. The second book (which we are in now) is about our leadership skills around others. Each short chapter has a picture that helps focus us into theme and trait the author Tim Elmore is talking about. It has been a great time as we interact about the days picture, story, scripture and personal questions.
I decided last year while at youth summer camp that I wanted to make a priority to invest in a specific group of young people and this has been my best decision this last year. I have found that I am never disappointed when I choose to help develop younger leaders. Their growth and interaction with each has been amazing to see.
As a side note, one of the best parts of this gathering is when we leave. There is a group of four ladies there every week that we pass on the way out. They smile at the youth and then I usually talk to them for a minute. They are always so shocked that young would meet at 6:38 to do such things. The first time I talked to them they said to me, “That must be expensive to buy their coffees every week”. I told them nope they pay for their food and book themselves. They assumed youth would only do something like this if they were bribed.
Glad we are changing their perception because I know a lot of great young people. Check out a few here..(missing one and I am not in the pictures)
My two Valentines
Happy Valentines to my two really special ladies, Christy and Amelia!
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- This is us happy to be together
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- Christy in the pink..That is about the time I sent her the first valentines
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- Joseph in the middle of his two loves!
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- Hanging out in the summer
Put bamboo in your title..what’s in a name
What is in a name? Well if it has a bamboo, bean, or trellis in it I guess it is really unique.
Cabbage in the middle of the peas
Since the writing of this one article back in March 8, 2010 it has been my number one blog of all time. Most everyday someone online searches for instruction on how to make a bamboo trellis for their climbing beans and they find me.
This over all goal of our family blog has always been about what new and crazy things we are doing as a family and it all started with our backyard farm we were making at our urban Washington homestead. I never knew years later people would still be referring to our “old” blogs.
I guess that is why if you are in the blog world making sure you have good titles and tags is pretty important. Here are my view stats for this particular blogs. It has been my top blog every year.
2012 (201)
2011 (808)
2012 (720)
2013 (21)
The funny (or at least I think it is funny) is that I called this a bean poll and actually planted peas.
DeepGreen is DeepChange for women in China
From time to time I like to pass on great nonprofits that are doing amazing things around the world to help people. My friends Jon and Elissa Kuert have been in China for several years working to fight against sex trafficking. From that they have started a great ministry and business to help these ladies. You can check out their whole story at www.deepgreenproject.org.
You can also help them by purchasing some of their garments. This is top quality stuff and who doesn’t like a little yak in your life. Everyone else has sheep or rabbit but they do it right!
Give someone a gift and help a women regain their dignity.
Exploring Estonia: Lahemaa National Park and Surrounding Area
Within a few weeks of moving to estonia we were able to borrow a car and take a day trip to a nearby national park. It was great to see the forest (mets) and Sea along the coast! We really enjoyed getting out of the city and being able to have a little freedom with a car.
I need to throw away my plans…they get me into trouble.
I was reading in the Bible the other day the story about Abraham (don’t start humming the Father Abraham song) and how God told him that he would be the father of many nations and his offspring would uncountable. The problem was that Abraham and his wife Sarah were really old and the act of having a baby was coming to a dead-end. Because he was feeling a little stuck and seemingly out of luck Abraham does what any man in his situation would probably do. Implement plan B!
With the approval of his wife he has sexual relations with her main servant lady. In the book of Genesis (15:3) he says to God during a long discourse, “You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” At that moment God reminds him again that he would accomplish what He said, but not by the means of Abraham’s meddling.
As a complete side note…how cool is it that he is just having a conversation with God. Like two friends sitting across the table having coffee they talk back and forth. Abraham said….God replied… What a cool story of two friends have a great discussion.
Back to the reason I write: Abraham would later have another child and it would be from Sarah. God’s plan reactivated and back on track. The problems however start to snowball down the mountain as the family grows and the issues start because these two plans (God’s and Abraham’s) are now working side by side.
Oh how this is so like me. Not the having sex with other ladies part, but the part where I will step in and help God. He has communicated so clearly to me over the years. Through His word, others, and His still small voice. There have been times in my life that I have my ear tuned to Him and His ways are known. God has given me the end result and clear instructions of how to accomplish the intended goal.
But “I” steps in to save the day. Because I knows better.
The problem is God doesn’t need my plans, He needs me to activate and implement His plan. Even if His plan doesn’t make much sense. Many time His plan is to wait, or talk to a particular person, or even to do nothing. I just need to trust his plan, but I get nervous it won’t work or that I might have heard incorrectly.
So maybe my side note is the actual note. I need to know the voice of God to know what path to be on and that I continue to stay on the right path. How I set aside time, my thoughts and desires to hear Him is so important. I want to hear his promises and desires for my life so that I don’t find myself getting off track helping God. I don’t want to end up with illegitimate plans and ideas. Lord help me!
What do you do to stay on track with the plans God has for you? How do you know you have heard correctly? Have you ever had moments where you have felt that God was communicating so clearly? Love to hear your thoughts.
