Thank you to our Supporters!

Our summer was indescribable in so many ways, but I will give it a shot. Jeff would say that one of the biggest things to him was that now he could call Jesus friend. That sounds like not a big deal, but think about it a second, let it sink in... friend. Jesus really opened Jeff up to who he is and how much he is in love with Jeff. We where both overwhelmed at times with glimpses of the glory of the LORD and the sheer awesome-ness of our God. Because we live under so much grace, sometimes we forget who this Holy God is that loves us so. I found myself at times just whispering "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come..." over and over. For me, the Lord grew my heart for intercession and assured me that I could do it, and that even in the midst of motherhood, that me and Him could carve out sweet time together. Also, for me the Lord showed me how manic my mind was, and he quieted it for me and he is still helping me with that area. Let's see... God dealt and continues to deal with us on how we look to people not God so often (that it is ridiculous!!!). Sometimes I was in tears by realizing how distracted I am by my desire to "know", whether that be knowing others or being known. Jesus wants us to gaze at him, to lock our eyes with him, and to behold no other. When we do it, it is glorious... to be so loved brings tears to my eyes even now!!
Well, I am not sure what else to say. We where refreshed, encouraged, built up, broken down, and built up again. We know that this was a part of the process of our life and a part of the preparation for whatever is next. We are establishing rhythms in our home now of prayer and fasting, and we are beginning to extend that into our time at Shades Valley, at the Birmingham Prayer Furnace, and to our future with Lone Sheep. Jeff has traveled with Lone Sheep a few times over the past year, and we have been praying for a while about what is next there. So... you will hear more from us on that front soon (jeff wants to travel with beau again this fall), but for now THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! we can't get over the fact that we where able to soak in KC for the last 2 months because of the LORD through you!! Our prayer is that somehow you have also been blessed. we love you :)

Goodbye KC/IHOP

This is the house we lived in for 2 months- it looked bad on the outside, but the inside was great and it was truly a peaceful house. Our kids slept great for 2 months- no bad dreams, David stayed in his bed, and no matter how late we where up, no one was ever tired. It was truly amazing, and I was able to share that with the owners of the house before we left (they are IHOPers who live in another house and rent this one). Lane Lackey took these pictures before we left. We took 2 days to drive home and it was an interesting trip. Jeff and I talked about how we would describe this experience to people at home, listened to a lot of music, I cried (mainly sadness to leave and worried that life would "eat me up" when I got home), and we prayed about our future a good bit. Coming into Birmingham was strange, and when we walked into our house, I felt claustrophobic. We had been in a furnished house but with only necessities ( we packed all our family's clothes in 2 Rubbermaids) and very minimal toys. We fit it all including 2 pack n plays into the back of the suburban. So, to come home to so much stuff was overwhelming, and honestly a little sickening. We are in process now of seriously purging which feels great!

Last Week in the prayer room

Our last week in the prayer room was a "teary" one for me. I had a hard time focusing on being present because I kept thinking about leaving. But, we where able to spend a little more time than normal, also, because Jeff was done with his classes. It was a great week, and our friends Lane and Ross Lackey and their daughter Selah came for our last 3 days. We started our time off with Birmingham people and ended it with Birmingham people- it was awesome! I did not know Jeff had taken pictures until after we got back, but I remember this day, and it was one of the times when all the kids where with us at one time(something we tried to do for an hour each day). The corded off area was the free dance area or kid space when no one was dancing.

Taste and See that the Lord is Good!!!

Wow! He is so good... there are no words for it, really. Our time is winding to an end now. A week from tomorrow we will leave and head back to the 'ham. Sometimes I get real sad and shed a few tears (i know... not shocking for those of you who know me!) and sometimes I look forward to what God has for us next. Well, not that I really know what all that entails, but I do know that some of our priorities have shifted, or maybe sharpened. We are purposing to spend more time individually and as a family to pray and be in the word. Here it is almost like the feast is laid out for you, and you come, prepare yourself, taste... or feast, i should say... and then you head back to the house where you keep the aftertaste, and then you do that again and again and again... (not that it is easy, sometimes the things are a little hard to swallow and take weeks or longer to digest). Well, now we will have to go back home, and there is still a feast there, but we have to do a lil more to prepare it, to feast on it, etc. I hope that makes sense. But, now I know that it is worth it. i have tasted of the Lord, and I am savoring it. I am learning how to do it for myself, and I am realizing that I knew it all along- I had just forgotten how to do it, or maybe I have been to distracted to do it.

The Martha and Mary story has always been hard for me- I am a doer, and so many times i have been my own accuser, thinking I wish I could just be a Mary but there is so much to do (can you tell I have a mom's heart- haha!). Well, something sunk in this time while I was studying Luke. It wasn't that she was working, maybe- it was that she was distracted by the work... for some reason that part came alive to me this time. The LORD knows I have things to do with my little clan of mighty men... I started thinking...what if Martha had done her dinner preparation unto the Lord, then her heart could have been at his feet even while her hands where busy. Hmmm... I don't know, it just struck me.

It is God's grace that we have been here as a family, because it has retained some reality to it. Jeff is in class, and I am at home with the kids (not all day, but just follow me), and I remember one day (about 3 weeks ago) when I was especially frustrated with "mothering", I started crying on the phone to Jeff. he said do you want me to come home so you can go spend time alone or at the prayer room? And I said, " NO!!!! I need God to show up here for me (i was being a tad bit demanding), not just in the prayer room!!" Well, from there- once I got those words and my true heart out there- I just started pouring my heart out to God. I said this is where I am, this is my life, I need you here so that when I go home, I do not despair, and because I need you here more than anywhere else!!! Well, even though I was being demanding, and even though my heart was not too pure, He met me there... and, wow...He met me!! Since then, he has been gradually doing a lot in my life- freeing me from bondage in my heart, purifying me, and granting me extraordinary peace.
All that to say, he has been working on this lil lady, and I am loving it, even though some of it has been gut-wrenching.

ZOO!!

Today we went to the KC Zoo in Swope Park- it was a really great time, but hot like home!!

Oops!- forgot these from 4th of July

We had a great 4th of July with our Birmingham Prayer Furnace friends and our peeps from home!

Priests

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

that is a priest's job... that is what we are, wherever we are...

Isaiah 61:6
And you will be called priests of the LORD; you will be called ministers of our God.

2 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God...

Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.

Wow! We are the holy priesthood... just a thought... what does that mean? Lord, you where the sacrifice, so what is our role as priests...hmmm... ask Him :)