Monthly Archives: November 2010

The In Between

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So I’m at the airport waiting for our flight to start boarding, watching the diversity, energy, order and chaos that is JFK International Airport. There is a pigeon walking around on the carpet in front of me. Inside. None of us are paying him any attention. I can hear phones, tvs, conversations in multiple languages, and announcements from every direction. People are running, walking, standing, sitting.

They are in the in between. They are either headed to a destination or arriving from a destination. Or they are trying to make a connection. That’s the in between the in between. However you look at it, airports are the in between.

Life has a lot of in betweens. Not only is life full of in betweens, life is THE in between. This life and the next. Mark talked about it a few weeks ago. Makes a lot of sense for all of the discontent and emptiness. I mean if we are looking in the world, there is temporary happiness here and there, but like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, its all a chasing after the wind. Essentially not only are we in the BIG in between as far as eternity goes, but on a daily basis we are in the in between as we wait for what God next has for us. The longer I live, the more I realize that life is a big wait. We wait for everything. Then it comes and we wait for the next thing.

The big question for the in between is are we waiting for the next thing with an unhealthy expectation that borders on worship? Is that next thing we are waiting for (for us, a child) our idol? Have we placed greater value and greater emphasis on that next thing than God Himself? It may be a phase of life: a birthday, a driver’s license, college, a job, an engagement, a wedding, a house, a child, a trip, a major purchase. Side note:all of these things are good, not bad things. As long as they don’t turn into the object of our worship, right?

I’ve realized two things as I’ve gotten older. Number one: no matter what it is that I am waiting for it will satisfy me temporarily but I will once again find that familiar feeling of emptiness or dissatisfaction. That idol, that god, has disappointed. It has ended. The original happiness has lessened, faded, all together disappeared. Number two: the longer I have to wait in the in between the more I see the wicked condition of my own heart. I see a lack of faith, a lack of patience, a lack of trust. I see just how much I resemble a toddler and just how much growing up I still have to do. You’d think I’d feel hopeless in the in between.

The truth is, I feel fantastic. Just like I am comfortably waiting in this airport with the confidence that I will eventually get home, the longer God has me in these in betweens of life, the more I am finding comfort and satisfaction. Right here. Not back there. Not ahead up there. Right here.

Because you know who is here? You know who is good? You know who is more than enough?

Jesus.

He’s enough that I could stake a claim to this in between acreage, set up shop, and praise Him for the rest of my temporary in between until He calls me home to permanent peace, joy, satisfaction and contentment.

Thoughts from an NYC airport.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

Thanksgiving in New York

Posted in About Us, Fun Finds, In the Kitchen by

After traveling through the night, sleeping for four hours (maybe) and a three hour layover in Salt Lake City, we finally made it to NYC this morning at 5:30 am. My parents picked us up and we jetted downtown to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was the first time for all of us and it was an amazing experience that we will never forget. (see fotos below) The streets were packed, and the parade was well done. The air was filled with energy, and the childrens’ faces were totally priceless. Saw some really cool floats and some famous faces. Highlight of the day for sure was Jimmy Fallon and the Roots. I may have cried a little…I was excited. Then, on our way out of town we saw Jack McBrayer just walking down the street!

We headed home, took a nap, and then had one of the MOST delicious Thanksgiving meals EVER. Hats off to you, Momma. You are a gifted cook and we were blessed to sit at your table tonight. Spent some time with Grammie Grammie after not seeing her for the last year. That was wonderful. She’s 96 going on 16 and is headed down to Florida for the winter after we leave on Sunday.

A fantastic day. Looking forward to some time with friends over the next few days and more time here at home with the family. So thankful for everything we are blessed with in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Click here to see a slideshow of all of my parade photos…granted they’re not perfect, they were on my phone. More to follow from Jason’s camera!

Saying Goodbye to 22 Degrees

Posted in About Us, Friends by

With a wind chill of 17. Supposed to get down to 16 tonight. I don’t remember it EVER being that cold in WA…let alone in November! Crazy weather. Here we come NY!

We leave tomorrow. I’m really excited and thankful to have the opportunity to go home for Thanksgiving and see my parents, grandma, and friends back east. I used to get home at LEAST twice a year. The last few years it’s only been once a year. That’s hard. So I’m super excited and super ready to make this trek and spend some much needed time at my house, with my family, and with my friends. It will be a great holiday.

Top ten list of things I’m looking forward to (other than seeing everyone of course):

10. The runway of reflectors that Frank puts up!
9. Driving on familiar roads, seeing familiar landmarks!
8. New York air!
7. Sleeping in!
6. Getting to see the changes at Grace! And hear Jarrod preach for the first time?!
5. New York pizza!
4. Day after Thanksgiving sandwiches (turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, squash, and homemade bread)!
3. Playing cards with Grammie Grammie!
2. Feeling fat and stuffed on Thursday!
1. The smell of home!

Here’s to hoping all of your Thanksgiving Top Tens will be fulfilled. Thankful for each and every one of you that is a part of our lives! Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Baby McKenzie

Posted in Awesome God, Becoming Parents, Friends, My Jesus by

This letter arrived in the mail a week and a half ago from England. Our friend, Paulina, is studying there.

October 20, 2010

Dear Baby McKenzie,

I know that your Mommy and Daddy are writing you letters, and God put it on my heart to write you one too!

Baby, do you know how incredibly loved you already are? You are a blessed child. Not only does the Lord of the Universe love you, but your parents love him and will be able to love you in a way that is truly phenominal because of it. You will be born into a community. Not just a regular group of people, but people who will love you, support you, hold you, pray for you, and cherish the miracle that you are. Baby, you are blessed.

Baby, do you know how cherished you already are? That God, that amazing God I just talked about, well he came and died for you. You know your Mommy and Daddy? They are pretty much fantastic! They long for you, they pray for you. They hold you so dearly in their hearts that we can feel it radiating from their inner-most being. They are fighting for you. Do you know your parents are warriors? Not only are they warriors, but they are strong warriors that will not accept defeat. Baby, you are blessed.

Baby, do you know how faith changing you are? You are inspiring so many people, non-Christian and Christian. Your story will move mountains. You are a part of a beautiful legacy. Baby, you will do great things. Did you know you already are? You are penetrating people’s hearts. You are a gift. Baby, you are blessed.

Baby, I love you so very much. Thank you.

Love, Paulina

I may have cried a little. :) We love you, Paulina.

Like I’m Missing a Finger

Posted in Friends, My Jesus by

I haven’t posted a real post in 18 days. Not that I have to post. Not that I feel pressure to post. Not that anyone is saying anything about me posting. But I just love to post. And I haven’t been. A part of me has been missing.

It’s good to be back.

Now, there could be some unspoken pressure to come back from an eighteen day hiatus and post some hilarious, meaningful, heart-warming, tear inducing post, but I just don’t really have anything original.

But I do want to link you to a friend’s blog. They are getting ready to hear from the state on a foster to adopt situation. They’ve been patiently waiting and God has been molding and shaping their hearts to prepare them for what He’s calling them to. For those of you who know/don’t know anything about the foster to adopt program, this is a great read. Kyle and Leah are teaching the world what the gospel of Jesus looks like lived out in a family. Read this post.

This week has been a hard week with several friends of ours that are pregnant getting difficult news about their pregnancies. Again, I marvel at the faith that it takes to embark on the journey to become a parent. It is not an easy journey and sometimes it doesn’t go how you want it to go at all. It’s confusing. It’s unknown. It’s full of waiting and uncertainty. The path never seems straight or well-marked. I don’t understand, and maybe I won’t this side of heaven, but I’m watching these couples rely on Jesus and trust that He is in control…and it leaves me speechless. I’m thankful for friends that model faith to us in such inspiring ways.