Every Friday this summer our church is hosting an early morning men's meeting called The Mill. Erik had the joy of being able to preach at it a week or so ago. I'm so proud of his faithfulness to bring God's word and all the hard work he did is preparing for it.
If you are interested in hearing his message (it is short- only 8 minutes) listen here.
Showing posts with label Honor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honor. Show all posts
Monday, August 4, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Grateful
Over the past few months (we started end of May) we have been working on adding a new deck onto the back of our house. This project has been some years in the making. The house came with one medium size deck off the family room and one very small (could barely fit a chair) deck off the dining room. Our original desire was to have steps into the backyard, have two decks the same size and a bridge connecting them. After the county rejected those plans we decided that we would just make one large deck across the back of the house.
Now, the MOST important thing to mention in all of this is that we would not and could not do something like this without my Dad. My Dad is simply amazing (in all ways but especially when it comes to construction). He drew the plans and then redrew them and then he basically built the entire deck, with help from Erik and many friends (who pitched in from time to time). My Dad can basically do ANYTHING when it comes to building. He once told my aunt that if she could think of it he could build it (this was when he completely gutted and renovated her house). He has over the past several years, tiled the kitchen in our bathroom, added chair rail, added an additional bathroom, moved a huge shed by himself using levers, installed a patio, built custom bookshelves. He did all that in our townhouse which we sold a few years ago. When we moved into our current home he remodeled the basement making one huge bedroom into two smaller ones, he installed a double oven, installed 3 sliders and converted one slider into a window, fixed various electrical problems with house, gutted our old master bath, remodeled it and installed a washer and dryer on our second floor. His most recent project is the deck. In all these projects his ability to work constantly amazes me. He puts in 60 hours in 4 days and then at 9:30 at night drives home to NJ. He is truly gifted.
He has done all this for his daughter (who he loves), he has served his son (who he also loves) with remodeling and putting several additions on his house, I already mentioned my aunt, he has also helped various other family members. You might think he is a great guy for serving all these people in his family but he has also in recent years (as he entered partial retirement) remodeled a strangers house (someone whose house was destroyed in a flood). He goes on missions trips to New Orleans, Africa and Nicaragua. I imagine he would go anywhere to help someone in need. He uses his gifts for God's service and glory.
Now, the MOST important thing to mention in all of this is that we would not and could not do something like this without my Dad. My Dad is simply amazing (in all ways but especially when it comes to construction). He drew the plans and then redrew them and then he basically built the entire deck, with help from Erik and many friends (who pitched in from time to time). My Dad can basically do ANYTHING when it comes to building. He once told my aunt that if she could think of it he could build it (this was when he completely gutted and renovated her house). He has over the past several years, tiled the kitchen in our bathroom, added chair rail, added an additional bathroom, moved a huge shed by himself using levers, installed a patio, built custom bookshelves. He did all that in our townhouse which we sold a few years ago. When we moved into our current home he remodeled the basement making one huge bedroom into two smaller ones, he installed a double oven, installed 3 sliders and converted one slider into a window, fixed various electrical problems with house, gutted our old master bath, remodeled it and installed a washer and dryer on our second floor. His most recent project is the deck. In all these projects his ability to work constantly amazes me. He puts in 60 hours in 4 days and then at 9:30 at night drives home to NJ. He is truly gifted.
He has done all this for his daughter (who he loves), he has served his son (who he also loves) with remodeling and putting several additions on his house, I already mentioned my aunt, he has also helped various other family members. You might think he is a great guy for serving all these people in his family but he has also in recent years (as he entered partial retirement) remodeled a strangers house (someone whose house was destroyed in a flood). He goes on missions trips to New Orleans, Africa and Nicaragua. I imagine he would go anywhere to help someone in need. He uses his gifts for God's service and glory.
Dad, I know you hate being honored but we are tremendously grateful for your help (that doesn't seem like the right word) in building this deck. It has already made a huge impact on our family. The kids love being out there and we already enjoyed such sweet family times together.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A Call to Suffer
I recently listened to this excellent message by John Piper. It was given several years ago at his church on mother's day. I can often, in the midst of my sinful attitude, think that I am suffering as I "endure" hard days (please forgive my complaining- but that is what is often in my heart). Today, as I think of the many excellent mothers I know I am struck by another class of mothers all together and at awe at the way God works in their lives. There is Helen, whose husband is having his third surgery to remove a brain tumor, while she suffers through a difficult pregnancy (for the sixth time) and whose rock solid love for the Savior deepens her desire to worship him through this trial. There is Kriscinda, who lost her precious Micah here on earth only find a deeper love for the Savior. There is Kelly, whose faith and joy amidst what seems like a mystery of medical problems in her little girls can only be from God. There is Jen, who joyfully and serves her family of 6 through the cancer her littlest is now battling.
These ladies show a deeper reality of the gospel and the call that God has placed on our lives to suffer. Though I weep for their suffering I am glad to be able to witness the work of our awesome God in their lives.
These ladies show a deeper reality of the gospel and the call that God has placed on our lives to suffer. Though I weep for their suffering I am glad to be able to witness the work of our awesome God in their lives.
Monday, April 21, 2008
A Huge Thanks
This is a special thank you to all of our dear friends who helped me last week with surprising Erik. If you know Erik you know he LOVES surprises and he is extremely hard to surprise because he is always guessing exactly what has been planned. So last week he was away all week at the Together for the Gospel Conference. We have been wanting to paint our office since we moved in but have not had the time. So while he was away I recruited some excellent help from our dear friends to paint it. Orginally I contacted one of them, Denny, and asked him if he could help me paint. I don't what I was thinking. There is NO way that Denny and I could have done it on our own. Denny, being the smart man that he is recruited lots of other friends and I got a few others (care group leaders) to help prep and paint the whole office. Needless to say, Erik was VERY suprised and EXTREMELY blessed. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture before we started so I only have one from before we moved in. You can see the beige paint everywhere and the wallpaper. The office is now yellow, gray and white (thank you Denny for picking the colors). It looks fantastic! A special thanks to both Denny (who helped me plan everything and organized the work) and John (who can back on Wednesday by himself while I was a cg ladies meeting and but second and third coats on the white and yellow- making the room look MUCH better). I never could have accomplished this without these dear friends and their wives who released them to come help.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Can I just say THANK YOU
Erik & I just spent the past two days on a personal planning retreat. It was a wonderful time for us evaluating areas in our lives and planning for the future. We are so grateful to God for providing this time. BUT this time would not have been possible if the most wonderful mother-in-law in the world had not sacrificed her time and energy to come down and watch our kids.
Grammer, as she is fondly called, came down and babysat for us from Saturday into Sunday for some meetings and a wedding, went home to PA on Sunday evening and then turned around and came back on Monday night and just left a little bit ago (Wednesday evening). Now, in addition to taking fantastic care of the 3 very tiresome children who adore her, she also cleaned our house. We came home to a spotless (vacuumed) living room, scrubbed clean kitchen floor, kitchen cabinets cleaned inside & out, and through I haven't been upstairs yet I won't be surprised to find laundry washed & folded (since she does this pretty much every time she comes).
So Grammer, since you are one of the faithful readers of this blog, THANK YOU. I do not show my appreciation for you enough. We could not accomplish the things that God calls us to without your love, prayers, support & sacrificial service! We are grateful to God for you.
Grammer, as she is fondly called, came down and babysat for us from Saturday into Sunday for some meetings and a wedding, went home to PA on Sunday evening and then turned around and came back on Monday night and just left a little bit ago (Wednesday evening). Now, in addition to taking fantastic care of the 3 very tiresome children who adore her, she also cleaned our house. We came home to a spotless (vacuumed) living room, scrubbed clean kitchen floor, kitchen cabinets cleaned inside & out, and through I haven't been upstairs yet I won't be surprised to find laundry washed & folded (since she does this pretty much every time she comes).
So Grammer, since you are one of the faithful readers of this blog, THANK YOU. I do not show my appreciation for you enough. We could not accomplish the things that God calls us to without your love, prayers, support & sacrificial service! We are grateful to God for you.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Show Honor
Romans 12:20 says, "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." I think from time to time I'd like to honor someone on our blog. The lady I'd like to start with my dear friend Jenn. What can I say that can adequately describe the grace that this lady is to me!
On May 21, 2002 I meet this wonderful friend. We had just moved to the area and were attending our first care group at Earles home. It was a ladies meeting and I can still picture the room. Jenn was several months pregnant with her first child. In the weeks that followed we spent an enormous amount of time together mostly as couples. As couples, there was an immediate connection. But I would say that as ladies Jenn & I had to work at our friendship. When we first met, she had just stopped working, I was just starting. She was really into scrap booking, I had never even tried. The only thing we clearly had in common was a love for our Savior and our church. And through that love for our Savior we have a developed a love for each other.
In the five years that I have known her I have experienced the blessing of fellowship and the richness of a true friend. Jenn is one of the most real people I know. She is quick to confess what is going on in heart, even when it is really ugly. In this she receives the grace for change that God promises (James 5:16). Jenn is gifted in hospitality, opening her home for meetings, play groups, ladies teas, scrap booking events. Whenever she does these things it is clear she loves to use her home as a place to bless others. I could one with listing the many evidences of God's grace on her life and character but instead I'll share a recent story.
On December 18th, I was pregnant with our baby Mercia. When my water unexpectedly broke that afternoon Jenn was the first person I called (Erik was home with me already :) ). We laughed on the phone and I know she delighted in the excitement of all that was to come. After getting to the hospital and learning that our baby was breech and I would need a C-Section, I told Erik call Jenn. When he did she was the one asking the doctor about other options. Her care for us was further evidences by her starting a prayer chain, picking up my mother in law and driving up to the hospital at 11 pm at night, then organizing 6 weeks of meals for us, all while taking care of her own 3 children. She is a phenomenal mom and wife. My children adore her, Karis lights up every time she see her. And I am so grateful to have her in my life.
On May 21, 2002 I meet this wonderful friend. We had just moved to the area and were attending our first care group at Earles home. It was a ladies meeting and I can still picture the room. Jenn was several months pregnant with her first child. In the weeks that followed we spent an enormous amount of time together mostly as couples. As couples, there was an immediate connection. But I would say that as ladies Jenn & I had to work at our friendship. When we first met, she had just stopped working, I was just starting. She was really into scrap booking, I had never even tried. The only thing we clearly had in common was a love for our Savior and our church. And through that love for our Savior we have a developed a love for each other.
In the five years that I have known her I have experienced the blessing of fellowship and the richness of a true friend. Jenn is one of the most real people I know. She is quick to confess what is going on in heart, even when it is really ugly. In this she receives the grace for change that God promises (James 5:16). Jenn is gifted in hospitality, opening her home for meetings, play groups, ladies teas, scrap booking events. Whenever she does these things it is clear she loves to use her home as a place to bless others. I could one with listing the many evidences of God's grace on her life and character but instead I'll share a recent story.
On December 18th, I was pregnant with our baby Mercia. When my water unexpectedly broke that afternoon Jenn was the first person I called (Erik was home with me already :) ). We laughed on the phone and I know she delighted in the excitement of all that was to come. After getting to the hospital and learning that our baby was breech and I would need a C-Section, I told Erik call Jenn. When he did she was the one asking the doctor about other options. Her care for us was further evidences by her starting a prayer chain, picking up my mother in law and driving up to the hospital at 11 pm at night, then organizing 6 weeks of meals for us, all while taking care of her own 3 children. She is a phenomenal mom and wife. My children adore her, Karis lights up every time she see her. And I am so grateful to have her in my life.
*The picture is of Jenn holding Mercia on recent walk we took. It should be noted that she pulled a wagon with three kids AND pushed a stroller with two while I tried to get my disobeying son to come. :)
