The ebb and flow of our emotions...

This morning DA and I were reflecting on the emotional highs and lows we daily seem to go through. We are less than a month away from leaving the land we know and the people we love. With this comes surges of intense excitement, deep sorrow, unnerving anticipation for the things to come, and quiet satisfaction with where God has us.

In the midst of all this I am reminded of at least two things. First, that all the great lives that have been lived were lived in the context of extreme hardship and sacrifice coupled with great joy and satisfaction in God. I am convinced that to flee the former is also to deny the later. The second thing that I am reminded of is that the very God who holds our life in his hand is the same God who never changes, he will be 'the stability of your times' (Is 33:6). What a comforting thing to rest in. Although this world and our lives are in constant motion and in a constant series of hellos and goodbyes . One thing remains the same, the very God that loves us and gave his life for us will never leave us or forsake us, and will supply everything we need to finish the task he has put our hands to.

In all the joy, sorrow, hardship, and sacrifice. I know that in the end we will be able to say with countless others... 'It was worth it'.

St. Patty what?

“I am a servant of Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life everlasting which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Patrick

HT: MD

How will we look on your fridge?

Valentine's Day, Botanical Gardens, and Snow!

The month of February flew by!  And w/ the coming of March we are much closer to being done w/ training.  3 weeks left!  Then back to Silverton and Lubbock for time w/ family.  

We've been pretty busy w/ class, but otherwise lead a fairly dull life.  Not to say that we're not having fun or are dying of boredom, there's just not much to tell you.  We really sit in class all day....there's not much else to tell you.  

We have had some highlights.  Valentine's Day brings a tradition around 8-10 years old.  My Dad has, for the past 8-10 years (I honestly can't remember when it started, he might comment and correct me!), sent me flowers on Valentine's Day.  I wasn't going to be super sad if he missed this year, considering we're across the country right now, but I have to admit I was going to be a little disappointed.  However, there was no need to, b/c Dad sent me flowers!  Here's a picture.

The next weekend, Logan and I went to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.  Although it was a bit too cold outside and too early for lush, beautiful gardens, they had a great conservatory, complete w/ an orchid room.  I love these flowers.  Maybe our future home will provide a better climate to grow these...I have no idea, that's a question for Logan, the horticulturist of the family.  We got to see lots of varieties of orchids, and then on the other side of the conservatory there was a room that had tulips and other early spring flowers.  The last of the botanical garden pictures is that room.

On Sunday, it started snowing around 1:30 in the afternoon.  It snowed and snowed and snowed!  I don't think it really stopped until Monday around lunch.  Regardless, it is Wednesday, the sun has shown for two full days, and there's still a lot of snow left around.  This isn't the greatest picture, but you can get the idea and be jealous or sorry for us, depending upon how you feel about snow.  It was fun to watch the kids (and adults) play Sunday night as it just kept coming down.  I prefer a book and a cup of tea while warm inside the house.....

We are doing well.  The current sessions in training deal w/ security, so its been an interesting week, but also helpful.  We have class all day for the rest of this week, including Saturday.  I will try and be better about posting, however, there's just not a whole lot to tell you.  And as a disclaimer, I still don't know the best/easiest way to post pictures, and this blog design is kind of frustrating at times, but at least we're posting (words and pictures!), right??  

Hope you are all doing well!  And now I'm off to lunch......

Love, 

da