The Faces of Nicaragua

Well, I made it home. My prayer was that by the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit I would finish different from when I started. And I did. It is going to take me a few days to process all that God allowed me to see this past week. But do know this - God showed up, showed out and all Glory was His. I will share more later. But for now as I sit in my living room trying to figure out how to reconcile my surroundings with the surroundings I just left, these are the images I miss. Enjoy. They are beautiful - inside and out.

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful two Daddy's that the Lord gave me, to my precious father-in-love, to my son, and to the sweetest, most generous man I know - my husband. I love each of you very much.
Blessings,
Michelle or as I am now known - Me-chell! :)

About to Go

Well, tomorrow is the big day.......Off to Nicaragua!!!!! Baby girl and I have everything we need and today is just getting last minute things done around the house and getting it all in our carry-on bags!!! My emotions are somewhat all over the place. I am anxious, not in a bad way, but a feeling of anticipation is upon me. I have been praying for a long time about this trip and as the time nears I feel a stirring. Like I know the Lord is up to something big. Like, all those prayers where I ask Him to change me and rid me of myself are going to be answered. And I am a little scared. I hope that resonates with someone out there. Please tell me that I am not the only one who gets nervous that I might just get what I am asking for!! But it is a good scared and I can't wait to see what happens. I have been praying hard for my baby girl too. I hope she is changed forever with compassion and amazement at what God accomplishes through those who empty themselves before Him.  What an opportunity for her. Youth - it truly is wasted on the young. :)

Your prayers are appreciated and I will be journaling while gone and sharing everything when I return. Talk to you soon-
Michelle

God's Perfect Timing

Baby girl and I were invited by some family friends of ours several months ago to go on a mission trip with them that they have been doing for several years now. We will be leaving this Saturday to go to Diriamba, Nicaragua for a week to serve and minister to the Nicaraguan people. Now, I must be honest and tell you that when we were first invited and I heard the word "Nicaragua" my mind went back to the time I was a teenager in the 80's and all you knew of Nicaragua was the scary vision of gun toting guerrillas on the news. When I shared that with baby girl she thought I meant "gorilla" and said, "what is scary about that Momma? That will be cool to see real gorillas!" I have failed her where history is concerned. I did some researching and am not as anxious now as I was - my own mother is a different story. :)
I kept thinking how great it was going to be for baby girl to see how blessed she is and how so many other people live in the world. Most teenagers don't get an opportunity like this and what teenager doesn't need to see that it is not all about them? We are working with the Nicaraguan Christian Outreach Ministry that began in the early 1990's and has expanded to include two acres of land on which there is a mission home that sleeps up to 28 people, an additional missionary house and a medical clinic. We will be serving alongside the Baltodano family who live there and minister to the people in Diriamba. Our goal during the week is threefold: 1) To disciple and minister to children through Bible school 2) to build a house for one of the families in Diriamba and 3) to conduct adult men and women discipleship groups.
So we have been preparing by getting all our shots - Somehow the international allure is lessened when you hear the words typhoid and malaria! We have been preparing for the items we need to take supply wise and so forth......
Then my new bible study began last week. My, what a providential God we have. I have known for a while Nehemiah was going to be our next study, but any sermons or teachings on Nehemiah that I had ever heard were on leadership so in my mind that is what I was preparing to hear. The introductory video let me know immediately that this was going to be different. As Kelly Minter discussed how the Lord had laid Nehemiah on her heart and revealed to her that not only was Nehemiah a leader, but also he was a man of compassion, I began to feel as though the timing of this study for me was not coincidental.  I read the opening scriptures of this wonderful book and heard how Nehemiah was living in luxury in Persia as cup bearer to the king and he heard how his people were living in "great trouble and disgrace", Nehemiah was moved to weeping, fasting, mourning and praying for his people in a place he had NEVER EVEN BEEN TO!!!! His heart was compassionate and devoted to a place he wasn't born in and he loved his people, because they were God's chosen people.
I don't live in a palace in a royal kingdom, but by comparison to most places in the world, I live richly. My attitude about my trip began to change. Still anxious and excited, but something is different now. As though something life-changing is about to happen. I am beginning to ask God, as the song goes, Break my heart for what breaks Yours Lord. How differently the face of Christianity would look if we all prayed that. I don't always. Mostly just bless me and mine Lord. I know I am not going to rebuild a wall around a city, but see the following from Kelly Minter:
                          "Disgraces, tragedies, and abuses take place all around us - things that should not be.
                           God's church is to work at setting things right as we seek His kingdom here on
                           earth. As New Testament believers we recognize that our task is not to rebuild
                           the physical city of God's dwelling place but to bring restoration to people's
                          hearts through Jesus Christ who takes away our sin and shame."

I don't know what the week ahead in Nicaragua has in store, or the weeks following when I come home. But I do sense that the Lord is up to something in me and that has me excited. Rid me of myself Lord so that your Holy Spirit can move and work through me.
Please pray for Baby Girl and me and the 26 others who will be traveling this coming Saturday. Pray for the people we are going to serve that they will see the love of Christ and be changed forever because of it. Help them to see the Hope of Glory which is Christ in us.

Blessings,
Michelle

Summer has Begun!!!!

Well, summer finally made it! Whoo Hoo! It is already so very hot here in Louisiana. And we need some rain in the worst way. I know many other parts of the country do too.

We have had a nice slow start to our summer and it has been wonderful. Baby girl and I leave this coming Saturday headed to Nicaragua on a mission trip. Post on that later. For now here is what our summer has looked like so far:



Baby girl ended her sophomore year with straight A's so her daddy rewarded her with yummies from Buttercup's cupcakes. She snatched one before I could snap a picture!

Lots of quiet mornings on the back porch with my coffee snapping pics of my plants. I am weird I know, but I need documentation of how beautiful they are before I am so weary of watering that they shrivel up and my yard looks like the Sahara. This is a shrimp plant. I thought it was cool and tropical looking.

I am quite infatuated with my hibuscus this year because the plant blooms all different colors.



My man and I just celebrated another wedding anniversary and we got some new patio furniture. I just love it. We live out there more than inside during the summer.

Here is my favorite part of summer thus far.... Grandpeeps jumping in GiGi's pool! Over and Over. Bliss for me to have them here and having such a great time. 

We are also eating a lot of grilled fish! Our son caught a bunch of redfish and he and sweet man grilled 'em up yesterday. Delicious!

Is he not darling? Love that sweet boy.

He and Great Maw had fun playing in the pool together.

 So as you can see, life is pretty rough at our house right now. Hope I can muster up the strength to keep up this pace.

Hope everyone has a blessed day at church today and a good start to your week. I am so thankful for these times of rest during such busy lives that we lead. Thank you Lord for all your blessings.

We Got Graduated!!!!!

Does anyone other than me wonder at how time just keeps marching on no matter how much we wish it would slow down? This has been another super busy weekend for us. I watched another graduating class leave PHS yesterday. Graduation day always brings me to tears. I never cease to be so proud and humbled to have the vocation the Lord called me to do as I am on that day. Congratulations Class of 2012!

But today was a graduation of another sort. Our sweet grand peep Connor graduated from pre-school today!!! We are so proud of him and so excited as he prepares to go to Kindergarten. As you can tell from the pictures below, his teachers will never be bored!

Could he be any cuter? This GiGi doesn't think so. How he makes us laugh.

His Mama and Brent were proud of him today.

As were his GiGi, PawPaw and Aunt Savannah!

Connor, you are one loved little boy. You have brought us so much joy in these past five years. We cannot wait to see what all is ahead of you. Thank you for your contagious smile and laughter. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

We Got Married!!!!!

Baby Boy is Getting Married!

Our sweet baby boy Josh is getting married tomorrow!!!!! Indulge me if you will.

Dear Josh,

Can you believe the time is upon us? I know no one is more ready than you. You do not like all this froo-froo stuff at all nor do you like the attention. You have been that way forever. Your two sisters make up for your lack of desire in that area!! We just want to love on you a lot this weekend. Indulge us!  One of the most precious gifts God has ever given me is bringing your dad, your brother and sister into my life 22 years ago (doesn't seem possible), and then to add your baby sister to the mix just made it all the more sweet. What a joy for you to be married on this Mother's day weekend. I never knew being a mother could bring me such fulfillment. From that first morning as a new family when your precious little voice woke me up announcing your need for breakfast, I have been smitten with taking care of all of you. Watching you grow into the man you are today has been an honor. Not always the best of times, but certainly growing times and necessary times and times that God never let us out from under His wing. What a lesson in faith being a parent is!



 It feels as though this has been a long time coming but happened so quickly all at the same time. You have made us so proud and I am so happy for you to marry precious Christine tomorrow night. Know that we will love her as we do you. We already do!!! She is a gift to you of monumental importance. Vow to always know that and treat her that way. I hope you won't mind if I give you some parental advice one more time before the big day (okay I know and you know it won't be the last time, but we can pretend right :) ). A few things your dad and I have learned in our marriage;
1. Keep God at the center- ALWAYS. You will let each other down, it is just part of our fleshly imperfections, but God will never let you down.
2. Take very seriously your role as leader of your home. God ordained it and Christine and my future grandbabies will depend on it.
3. Love deeply, forgive much, and laugh your heads off. Be each other's best friend and work hard to keep it that way. Forever is a long time.
4. Choose each day to trust God for everything, and thank Him everyday for His provision.
5. I read something yesterday that I can't get out of my mind because it so true: "Life is hard, the devil is mean, the flesh is weak, but the love of God stays strong." His love never fails.
6. Don't go to bed angry. Not worth it. Throw pride away. Suck it up and get over it. (I know that is your love language to be straight and direct :)
7. You are each other's priority now. The bible says leave your father and mother and cleave to one another. It also says visit your parents OFTEN. I can't quote the scriptural address but will get back to you on it!

We love you both so very much and are beyond delighted to share in your celebration this weekend. Enjoy it all Josh, soak it in and thank God profusely for His blessing. I know I will. I love you to the sky and back Boog!



1 Corinthians 13:4-13
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.