Sing for joy in the Lord, o you righteous ones, for praise is becoming to the upright. – Psalm 33:1
I find it best to share updates in a voice of praise. Like each of you, our days are filled with challenges and pains of many different kinds, but they are so filled with the goodness of YAHWEH and His presence among us (in us!) that praising Him before you is the very most appropriate thing. And while gratitude is our abundance, and joy is our strength, and trust-filled thanksgiving brings our peace, praise is lovely.
Ever wanted to dress up beautiful for your beloved?
Ever wanted to impress someone not in pride, but in given-ness to them?
Ever wanted to make GOD smile, not in fear or earned security, but because you adore your Abba and see the worthiness of your Almighty?
Here’s the key, folks.
Praise befits the upright.
It is lovely.
It’s like receiving the gown, the jersey, the crown- as much as you can comprehend of the every-good-thing He’s given to you in Himself, and putting it on. It bears His name, and you identify Him as the One ultimate thing, the One it is all from and for.
Joy in Him. He loves it even more than you do.
Who couldn’t use a bit of daily celebration on top of your freedom?
In May my mother had a major abdominal surgery followed by a very difficult, months-long course of recovery. The Father faithfully carried and is gently healing her. She faithfully clings to Him and finds her help as He restores her strength.
In May I took my ten-year Physician Assistant national re-certification exam. Having been out of full-time practice for a couple of years it was more of a challenge this time, but the Lord honored our investment of heavy study and I was grateful for the refresher.
In May we grieved the tragic death of one of Bob’s longest and dearest friends. His rapid decline was so painful to watch, and again we felt the helplessness of not being able to fix anything as we waited, prayed, loved. Seeing death come to peers always speaks loudly and calls us to greater urgency in making known the God of eternity and hope.
The school year ended, and with thanks to God for big goals to reach and great summer job opportunities, we had our best-yet season of unstructured family time. The boys completed their goal to run 100 miles, though they didn’t all quite read 100 hours (unless you count all our read-alouds at night – we’re working our way through the Little House series and loving it!). We celebrated at Holiday World, and they have a huge milestone of accomplishment in their books. Running and reading are not always easy, but are very easily taken for granted. We are thankful for all the physical and mental pieces that are working together to make these two activities possible for us.
In June, Anna had surgery on her hand to remove two benign tumors that were rapidly growing on her fingers. It’s always hard to see your baby in pain and tied up in protective devices, but God gave her so much grace, patience, and happiness amidst it all. Her skin grafts struggled to heal, but by end of July she was able to enjoy some water play. There is so much to be thankful for surrounding her procedure.
My sister got married in Hong Kong, where she lives, on June 30, then they came to the States for a July 4 reception & celebration. We are thrilled to welcome Nathan, the new Aussie uncle, to our family!
In July four of the kids went to Shakamak Bible Camp. It was Abe’s first year (he had a BLAST), and they all heard from the Lord and made new friends, as well as refreshing relationships from past years. What a joy to have this opportunity.
August is now over. I am so thankful for your prayer as I prepared for the home school year with the boys (5th, 4th, 3rd grades). We have a new and much more involved curriculum, but we have felt so much grace over our first four weeks. We are learning so much together, and most of all learning together. Our theme verse is, of course, Matthew 6:33. We seek to know GOD, to learn love, humility, unity, peace, kindness; to grow in understanding the Words that endure forever, to pray for many we’ll never see this side of Heaven, many who are suffering. We seek to anchor ourselves in the eternal, then move into our day trusting Him to add all the rest to us: we discover Him in all the places and stories of this earth, the workings of ecosystems and languages and art forms, the mathematical systems and earth-absolutes. It is so much work and the kids know all my buttons, but God is knitting together our family unit in a new way and gifting these three boys with a unity that is changing us all. He only knows what all He is preparing them for as He works, growing them in a thousand ways every day.
The girls are both in public high school, senior and freshman years. One is really enjoying her last year in this chapter of life, and by the power of the Holy Spirit is spending her days choosing gratitude, humility, and kindness. The joy and peace that our good Father pours into her as she seeks His ways have been a profound gift for her mother to observe and enjoy. Pray for her as she walks out her last year and sorts out what comes next. Our precious freshman has entered the chaos of hundreds of adolescent peers that live in a deeply deceived world. She’s faced daily with countless challenges, temptations, obstacles, decisions; for all the grief they can bring, I’m thankful that God gave her a bold spirit and a hard head. Pray for her as she navigates these difficult waters, and continues to grow in understanding of who God is and what is true about her.
Thank you for sharing life with us and praising our great God with us. What a priceless gift, to rejoice with each other and grieve with each other. In all things we give thanks. Take a breath and a break. Grab some coffee and come back for a more external ministry update!