2008 Youth Missions Trip -- It Impacted Me

People - God's Grace to Others

First of all, I was impacted by the people we encountered. It began Sunday morning with a song by Pastor Ben's wife. "You see the real me."

Pastor Ben and family

Pastor Ben taught on the discipline of confession of sin (James 5:16). That small church plant on the 3rd floor 18'X22' room in The Bronx was ALIVE and AUTHENTIC. Then we met Jeff.

Jeff and son, Canaan.

His testimony of how God used his weaknesses to bring him to Children's Bible Fellowship was an amazing reminder of God's faithfulness to make Himself known and glorified. So many times I forget my focus: to glorify God, not Lara!

Praise and Prayer

Wednesday night prayer service

The worship was incredibly transparent, authentic, and real. I loved being a part of the small church setting -- no hiding here! The Brooklyn Tabernacle was just as alive, although much larger. They hosted Ashton Hill in concert. The song "Be Free" was what spoke to me that afternoon. I am free, but I need to be free! I was able to let go of living to please others and focus only on living to please God. The prayer service that Wednesday night was passionate! Oh, to be a prayer warrior like that -- unashamed to cry out to God and bless His holy name. The quote by R. A. Torrey impacted me: "What if everyone who prayed for the conversion of souls, prayed like you pray for the conversion of souls?"

Publicizing God's Faithfulness to Me

The kids began by asking what it was I struggled with at their age. That got me thinking. Hmmmm. (It took me a while to remember back that far!) I think it was living like Jesus at home like I lived for Him in public. It's easy to serve others, be kind and patient, love selflessly when you are out and about. It's a whole different ballgame at home, day in and day out. I struggled with living like Jesus, particularly with my brother Rob. The kids could identify with that. Then they asked me to recount all of the mushy details of my romantic life. That was fun to reminisce through. I didn't think it would ever happen to me when I was 16. And, then we got to hear the stories of Grandpa Joe & Marge as well as each of the kids' parents! Wow!! Proverbs 19:22a "What a man desires is unfailing love."

Myra I am praying for Myra and her family. She hopes to visit Georgia in November to see her son graduate from basic training. She's 44, not much older than I am. She has seven children -- from 3 to 27. Despite a rough past, she's pursuing her relationship with God now.

In our devos we read Jonah 4. God loves the city. And, through my visit to the city God showed me again of his love for me. Because of this trip I have a renewed and absolute surrender to Jesus and living for Him ... and Him alone. May His name be glorified through me!

Here we are at Unicoi State Park where we had a wonderful day of playing in the sand & water with Jenny & family. I think Jenny has a better write-up with more photos on her blog, so be sure and check that out. (see sidebar)

(late June)

Here are the kids with Grandpa Verlin & Grandma Jane on the 4th. After the big parade, we leisurely explored all of the vendors on the green. Before departing we just had to get funnel cakes and ice creams.

Grandpa & Grandma left this morning. They did a great job of taking care of our kids, the house, laundry and more. I think the grandparents should finish raising the kids! They replaced our frustrating washing machine & dryer with the new high efficiency front-loader models. I've been dreaming about that type of washer for years, so I was more than excited to discover them installed & working upon our return late Saturday night. I've been washing clothes, towels, & sheets all day!

This morning we picked a bucket load of green beans. My kitchen table is covered with blueberries from last night's efforts. We also have cucumbers, zucchini and a few yellow squash. Yeah! The kids had to pay me back in five minutes of weeding for every green bean I found in their section. Boy, that improved their thoroughness!! Emily & Briella picked their areas clean! Jared & Marci ... well, they'll do better next time I think :).

Goodnight for now.

Busy gardeners

enthralled with a stick!



Dan just switched his candles around, in case you didn't notice. He's NOT 14!



Daddy & Emily battle it out with the noodles.



Fun at the lake. Near 90 today, they said!



Letting balloons go in memory of Carrie.



Everyone loved watching them "race."



Birthday celebrations, time at the lake, planting the garden. June is a busy time of fun-filled play and some work, too. Today marks ten years for little Carrie Marie.

All 4 of us were home, so we (some quite reluctantly) posed for a quick photo by Curt-man! It may need a little photoshop work, but it holds some fun memories!!

me & Buddha

THE BOSSES photo

Mom & the 4 kids

Mom & Mrs. Goodman -- BFF!

Mom & Mr. D

Lindy, me & Steph (87 grads!)

Dawn & me

My dear Pastor & his wife w/ Mom

Mom surrounded by all of her bosses
What fun memories :)

What I Should Have Shared

I want to say just two words, “She’s real.” She’s the same Jody at home as she is here, to all of you. Isn’t that reassuring? She’s authentic. I wish I’d ordered my t-shirt. It’d say, “Don’t you wish Jody was your mama?!?” I’m not wishin’ – ‘cause she is!

And, for Daddy, another few words, “Mrs. Proverbs 31.” He always praised her as that to us. May we arise today & call her blessed. She’s worth more – is that not what I heard? Yes, she’s worth far more than rubies! Yes, she’s worth more than a computer, desk chair, camera, and all that. She is– and one day I know she’ll receive the crown of life. One day, she’ll get her rewards. It may not be while we’re alive here on earth, but that’s because Jody didn’t pursue things for herself, did she? She pursued things of eternal value. She could’ve pursued her own goals – a career, or whatever. She’d have been far greater than a secretary. But, I’m convinced that the four of us wouldn’t be the men/women we are today if she had. It was 10 a.m. prayers each day one summer and things like that that have forever changed us.

What is easier? To make much of yourself – to follow after your dreams – or to make nothing of yourself – to make yourself a servant to all – and to point others to Jesus? Yes, I think the title I heard wasn’t “Jody, competent secretary whom nobody can replace,” but “Jody, one who points others to Jesus” who will SORELY be missed (evoking tears from the best of us, eh?!?). She’s not the lady about whom you all say to your children, “Aspire to be like her” – is she? Do you say, “Go, be a secretary?” No! We want MORE for our children, don’t we Dr. Bradley??! J Ahh, but I don’t.

I never realized how smart, how capable, how admirable my mom was ‘til I had to fill her shoes – to make nothing of myself, my own selfish pursuits – to be a servant, love others and most of all to love & be like Jesus. But, yes, I’m telling my kids that here’s a lady worth emulating. “Be like Grandma Jody.”

My thirteen-year-old daughter wrote a paper this past fall. It was about her cheerful servant of a Grandma. The one who’s always giving gifts and thinking of others before herself. It was “Jody, pointer of others to Jesus.” So if my teenager doesn’t want to chase after all kinds of things to be all about herself, that’s fine with me. I’m glad she’s recognizing that the truly important character qualities are those exhibited in her Grandma.

So, is Jody retiring? No! She won’t be secretary of _________ any longer, but she’ll still be “Jody, pointer of others to Jesus.” And, selfishly, I’m glad she’ll be more available to be that to my children. May her children arise and call her blessed. Mrs. Proverbs 31. She’s real … because she’s like Jesus.

I love you, Mom.

Love,

Lara

(3 am thoughts by Lara)

Well, here's a quick photo summary of our Memorial Day. (except for the parade -- no camera then) We slept in a bit, had a quick breakfast & Dan took the kids in for the parade. I was grateful to have a jog, hang out some laundry & deliver cupcakes to the park all by my lonesome! We went to Liberty Park for the annual chicken bar-B-Q. Boy, can Doc cook some very juicy, delicious chicken! We had fun playing in the creek, tossing a frisbee, exploring the beaver dam, etc. Dan scared me with this frog right in my face while I was talking on the phone to his mom. I'm sure she's deaf in one ear as a result of my scream.

We came home for a restful afternoon. I headed to the mall for wedding gifts while Dan worked on his pick-up. The kids just lounged around reading, playing Webkinz, etc. This evening after bagels & such for supper, the boys had much-needed hair cuts by Daddy. Then we had s'mores around the campfire. It was fun to stay up late. Hope I won't be regretting it tomorrow when I want lots of good help cleaning out the school room! :)

Emily's hymn

Marci - Pop Goes the Weasel

Jared - The Pet Shop; Just as I am

Marci on violin. She thinks this sounds pretty terrible. I'll blame it on our archaic recording system! I think we need to updgrade to a digital video camera.

Well, that's all I have time for at the moment. Maybe I'll put some more clips of my favorite students up later on. I'm very proud of "my" musicians!

Well, today we were diligent students until about 12:30. We had a picnic lunch again -- sandwiches, pretzels, fruit & veggies. The kids enjoyed smoothie-popsicles while I read a story from Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. They LOVE those stories and her ingenious solutions to every-day, real-life kid problems! Today was about table manners. :) I think I have forgotten to insist upon some of the manners, so they found it quite amusing as well as informative. (i.e. Jared didn't realize he should wipe off his milk-moustache every time he took a sip of milk!)

This afternoon Emily & I read more of The Hobbit. She keeps begging for another chapter, but I had to get the car washed this afternoon. While washing up the old Herbie, I noticed two old tires. I was moving one of them and it took off down the hillside very quickly. It rolled across the road & all the way down to Jones Creek. The kids thought that was incredible. After we dried Herbie Sr., we all hiked down the hill to find it. Marci found it first, but Emily brought it back up to the garage. She's buttering me up for a couple books that are in the surprise box. A ten-minute task for two books. Hmmmm. Not quite enough work in my book. So, now she's making me dinner (chicken quesadillas!)

Briella is noticing signs of spring for her Math Meeting book. We are amazed at the transformation as the leaves pop out! Titus is showing me the surprise from K12 for guessing a riddle in an e-mail or something like that. Jared is telling me about a picture in his latest Nature Friend magazine. The rest is self-explanatory & my dinner is ready!!!

Just more photos of stocking the trout.

Fun spring days here -- with daffodils all blooming. It's really, really hard to make the kids stay inside and do much school. We've been taking our books to the deck, but I confess that I've been a slack teacher. I know these 70-degree days of warm sunshine just won't last ... and then we'll buckle down again! In the meantime, the forts in the woods have had a lot of action. Grandpa Verlin will be pleased to know the hammock is rarely empty as well.

Today we met some friends at Snake Creek (just down the mountain) and helped stock the creek with buckets of trout. Fun, fun! It was a gorgeous day -- and who cares about Spanish class when you can touch fish & slip into the creek?!? This evening we had dance lessons, so the younger kids and I played at the park while the big girls danced. I had fun reading a couple chapters of a book, walking the path & helping little people go potty. The last part really wasn't fun, but it's part of it. I called Jenny & she had to take little people potty right when they got to B's soccer game. Goes with the territory of motherhood I guess!

Goodnight -- and don't forget to remind them to go potty BEFORE leaving the house! (although, sometimes it doesn't matter). And, goodnight!

E & I are reading The Hobbit -- one of the perks of homeschooling -- a justified excuse to sit in the sun & savor a good book! :)

We saw a really cool woodpecker on our mailbox as we drove out to the library program this afternoon. I talked to him and he pecked the mailbox back to me! Too bad the zoom is so poor! He was awesome!

The bee program was really cool too. The beekeepers shared that only God could have designed such an incredibly efficient animal (when considering the hexagonal shape of the honeycomb). How cool is that?!?? Marci got to be the queen bee. Jared & Briella were baby bees. I'm just glad Jared wasn't one of the drones! Jonah was a drone -- he didn't quite understand and piped up loudly, "I'm a Jonah Bee!" He was too adorable.

All for now!

Here's a family shot taken by Becky. And, then here's Bill, Becky, Phil, Jared & Briella. We had a fun afternoon at the Maynard's. Superb food, wonderful friends, fun games, beautifully decorated table w/ really cool napkins by Sarah, other people to play with my kids, etc.

We had four kids in the song time: "Run, Peter, Run!" Later Dan sang in the choir & Marci played her violin, but I couldn't get a good shot of them. We had our new Pastor fly up from Florida to preach. We are excited about their move and helped clean the house they will stay in for a while.

Will try again later on the video... 3 attempts is enough for me!

Last Saturday we celebraetd Shannon's shower at Aunt Terrie's. Grandma Ree was looking good with freshly painted nails and all! Shannon was the most adorable, of course. Aunt Terrie and girls had a wonderful spread of food. We shared lots of laughter and met some of A. Terrie's dear friends of many years. Got to see the boys too, but no photos of them. The girls enjoyed the trampoline, as always.

We watched a bit of TV Land with Grandma before heading back home. Here's a quick photo of my girls!

We celebrated Marci's 12th birthday today. Usually we get to celebrate with family, but this year we had 6 girls over to commemorate the day. (Turn your volume down when watching the sledding movies!) We started the day with games in the living room. They liked the secret signal game & trying to guess who had the signal. It worked better with adults, but you should see the way Titus raises his eyebrows & wiggles his ears! After game time we gather for lunch with Marci's requested menu: cheese soup & frog-eye salad followed by strawberry cake. The girls liked the soup, but were a tad suspicious about the salad because of Jared's description of how they caught all the frogs. After food, we opened gifts. Marci loved all of them! Then, for the best part... s l e d d i n g! Marci had been praying for snow and just overnight we got some fresh powder perfect for some outdoor winter fun. Like I warned you, turn the volume down:

The only "downer" was that Emily was feeling sick most of the day. She perked up & ate cake for supper this evening, so she's on the mend. Unfortunately, I'm feeling very worn down. I think it must be going through the ranks. Dan flies out to Iowa tomorrow, so he's trying to stay away from all of us. Have a great weekend!